Roll of Honour - Essex

Ministry of Defence

Lest We Forget

The Royal British Legion

FORDHAM WAR MEMORIAL

World War 1 & 2 - Roll of Honour with detailed information
Compiled and copyright © Transcribed and Researched Ernie Rusdale 2004
further details supplied by Wendy Shepherd - Project Leader Fordham WW1 Community Project - Fordham Local History Society.

The Fordham memorial takes the form of a clock tower commemorating those who died in World War 1 and World War 2. The sculptors were Messrs. L J Watts Ltd and the memorial was built by Frank W. Clampin in 1919, a local builder from the village. The land was donated by George Playle, also from the village. The money to build the clock tower memorial was from subscriptions collected from the villagers; they raised £81 10s 9d, the Ladies Flower Committee donated £12 1s 4d and there was a collection at the unveiling which raised £319s 6. The memorial was unveiled by Brigadier General F W Towsey CMG CBE DSO and dedicated 12 October 1919. It stands outside the village store in Mill Road, Fordham. The memorial was formerly a clock set within a stone column, the inscription is on the front face in black lettering; the whole is set into a wall; there is a cross now where the clocks face was and a dove on the top of the column. In 1989 the clock was replaced as it was always breaking down and in 1995 the memorial was cleaned.

In 2017 a further 12 names were added to the memorial and the original clock was reinstated. This was all part for a two year project undertaken by Fordham Local History Society who had been successful in a grant application from the Heritage Lottery Fund commemorating the Centenary of the Great War. As part of the project a scheme of work was written for the village school, a week long exhibition shared the research from the project and a book was written about the men and their village 100 years ago. For more information and a copy of the book go to: www.fordhamhistorysociety.co.uk

IN GRATEFUL
AND HONOURED MEMORY OF
THE FORDHAM MEN,
WHO FELL IN THE WAR, 1914-1919

BALLS	Arthur William	Private 10449, "B" Company, 2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment. Died of wounds 23 October 1916 at The Battle of Le Transloy. Aged 19. Born 24 February 1897 in Fordham, Essex, enlisted Colchester, resident Bridges Valley, Fordham. Baptised as William Arthur Balls. Son of Mrs. Mary Ann Balls, of Fordham Heath, Essex. Buried in BEACON CEMETERY, SAILLY-LAURETTE, Somme, France. Plot IV. Row A. Grave 1.
BROYD	Frederick Cyril	Private 204982, 2nd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment. Killed in action 24 April 1918. Born 24 June 1897 at Wakes Colne, Essex, and resident Fordham, enlisted Colchester. Baptised as Cecil Fred Broyd. Son of John Broyd and Emma Chatters. Resident of Brook Farm Fordham. No known grave. Commemorated on POZIERES MEMORIAL, Ovillers-la-Boisselle, Somme, France. Panel 54 to 56.
BULL	Arthur Hepburn	Gunner, 54537, Royal Garrison Artillery. Enlisted Great Yarmouth. Died whilst serving in Malta. Admitted to Cottonera Military Hospital on 2 November 1915 suffering from Endocarditis (inflammation of the inner layer of the heart.) He passed away on 15 December 1915, aged 19. Born 1896 in Allahabad India. (His family have a long association with Fordham.) Son of Bryan Bull and Cecilia Hepburn. Resident of Church Road Fordham. Buried in PIETA MILITARY CEMETERY, Malta. Plot C. Row II. Grave 4.
CANT	Percy William	Private 202883, 1st Battalion, Essex Regiment. Killed in action at the Third Battle of Ypres or Passchendaele 18 May 1917, aged 26. Born 6 April 1890 in Fordham and resident Plummers Road, Fordham, enlisted Warley, Essex. Son of George Henry Cant, 5, Western View Villas, Church Road, Fordham, Essex and also Southernwood. Buried in ORANGE TRENCH CEMETERY, MONCHY-LE-PREUX, Pas de Calais, France. Row D. Grave 19. Also commemorated on a memorial plaque which was in the Countess of Huntingdon’s Connexion Chapel in Fordham. The plaque is now at The Essex Regimental Museum Chelmsford Essex.
CAWDRON	Robert Edward	Private 51067, 17th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. Died from influenza whilst prisoner of war 28 October 1918, captured 14 November 1916, aged 29. Born 10 December 1890, at 15 Baxter Street, Brighton, Sussex. Son of Son of James Cawdron and Elizabeth Smith, his father remarried in 1900 to Alice Belcher; husband of Harriet (nee Woollands/Woollards) Cawdron, Fordham, Essex, married 1914 in Suffolk. Father of Margaret Lily Cawdron born 1914 Kings Norton, Warwickshire. Resident of Brighton, Ipswich and Ponders Road Fordham. Buried in BERLIN SOUTH-WESTERN CEMETERY, Brandenburg, Germany. Plot XVII. Row D. Grave 6.
CRISP	Edward Henry	Private 3632, 7th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. Killed in action at the Battle of Ancre (Battle of the Somme) 13 November 1916, aged 33. Born 26 October 1883 at Head Street, Halstead, Essex, enlisted Epsom. Son of the late William and Emmeline Eliza (nee Mayn) Crisp, of Halstead, Essex. Resident of Heathfields Fordham Heath. Buried in ANCRE BRITISH CEMETERY, BEAUMONT-HAMEL, Somme, France. Plot III. Row C. Grave 56.
DAVEY	Stanley	Private 40282, 11th Battalion, Essex Regiment. Died of wounds at the Battle of Le Transloy (Battle of Somme) 15 October 1916, aged 19. Born 20 May 1897 at Chadwell St. Mary Essex, enlisted Brightlingsea, Essex. Son of Edward and Elizabeth Maria (nee Shave) Davey, of 80, Manor Road, Dovercourt, Harwich. Resident of St. Oysth, Chadwell St. Mary and later Fordham. Stanley’s father was Fordham’s village policeman in 1914. Buried in BANCOURT BRITISH CEMETERY, Pas de Calais France. Plot VIII. Row G. Grave 18.
FRANCIS	Frederick Benjamin	Private 353210, 12th Battalion, Royal Scots. Died from disease whilst a prisoner of war 20 October 1918, aged 21. Born 2 April 1897 in Bradfield Essex. Son of Benjamin and Mary (nee Munden) Francis, of Cheshunts Cottage, Church Street, Boxted, Essex. Brother of Reginald Clement Francis, DCM (below). Resident of Clare Suffolk, Bradfield and Plummers Green Fordham. Remembered on the Szczypiorno P.O.W. Poznan Memorial Poland. Mem 5. Listed on a Grave Registration document alongside other prisoners of war from Szczypiorno headed ‘Kipling Special Memorial.’ It reads: ‘To the memory of these 14/29 British soldiers who died as prisoners of war in 1918 and were buried at the time in Szczypiorno Cemetery; but whose graves are now lost.’ A later document dated 1959 records the commission of a headstone for Frederick Francis with a single cross and an epitaph chosen by his parents: ‘Thy will be done.’ Buried in POZNAN OLD GARRISON CEMETERY, Poland. Szczypiorno Grave P.O.W. Cemetery Memorial 5.
FRANCIS, DCM	Reginald Clement	Private 7992, 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 16 December 1914, aged 22. Born 25 February 1892 in Bradfield, Manningtree Essex. Son of Benjamin and Mary Francis, Hall Cottage, East Donyland, Rowhedge, Colchester, Essex. Brother of Frederick Benjamin Francis (above). Resident of Plummers Green Fordham Essex. Awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) "for conspicuous gallantry on 15th December 1914 near Kemmel, in voluntarily taking a message over very dangerous ground. His destination was 150 yards in front and he was killed after covering 80yds of the distance. He was killed in action at Le Cateau on the 16th December 1914." No known grave. Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 21.
HORNE	Charles William	Private 10448, 11th Essex Regiment. Killed in action at The Battle of Morval 25 September 1916. Born 22 August 1897 in Fordham, Essex, and resident Fordham, enlisted Colchester. Son of William and Emily Horne, of Fordham, Essex. Resident of Fordham Heath. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 10 D.
PARTRIDGE	Charles Wallace	Private 026300, Calais Depot, Royal Army Ordnance Corps. Died from influenza 9 December 1918, aged 30. Born 27 January 1888 in Fordham, Essex. Son of Alderman and Edith (nee Partridge) Partridge, parents were cousins. Husband of Sarah Letitia South (nee Braybrooke) Partridge, of Cardfield Cottages, Hatfield Peverel, Essex, married in Chelmsford September 1912. Children Edith, born 1913 in Lexden, Evelyn, born 1915, in Lexden and Charles W., born 1917, in Braintree, Essex. Resident of Ponders Road, Fordham and Cardfield Cottages, Hatfield Peveral. Buried in LES BARAQUES MILITARY CEMETERY, SANGATTE, Pas de Calais, France. Plot VII. Row C. Grave 3.
PETTITT	Hercules Charles	Private 24198, 9th Battalion, Essex Regiment. Killed in action 8 October 1917. Born 7 April 1897 in Fordham, Essex, registered as Harkles Charles Balls, and resident Fordham, Essex, enlisted Colchester. Baptised 11 March 1900 at All Saints Church Fordham as Hercules Charles Balls. Son of Mrs. Emma Balls of Church Road, Fordham, Essex. (His mother, Emma Balls, became a Pettitt after her mother Jane Balls married John Pettitt; Emma Pettit married Philip Partridge in 1908.) Resident of Bridges Valley Fordham. Buried in MONCHY BRITISH CEMETERY, MONCHY-LE-PREUX, Pas de Calais, France. Plot I. Row N. Grave 21.
POTKIN	Thomas Edward	Private 204600, 9th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. Killed in action 10 April 1918, aged 22. Born 21 June 1896 in Copford, Essex, enlisted Colchester. Son of Thomas and Sarah (nee Green) Potkin. Resident of Fordham Heath. No known grave. Commemorated on PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL, Hainaut, Belgium. Panel 2.
PUDNEY, MM	Alfred H	Private 40485, 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action 18 September 1918, aged 21. Born 12 November 1896 at 11, John Street, West Ham, Essex, enlisted Colchester, resident Fordham. Son of Alfred and Mary Ann (nee Taylor) Pudney, of Fordham, Essex. Awarded the Military Medal (M.M.). Formerly 23918, 2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment. Buried in STE. EMILIE VALLEY CEMETERY, VILLERS-FAUCON, Somme, France. Plot I. Row A. Grave 5. Also commemorated on a memorial plaque which was in the Countess of Huntingdon’s Connexion Chapel in Fordham. The plaque is now at The Essex Regimental Museum Chelmsford Essex.
RAYNER	Albert	Private G/66132, 2nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. Killed in action at the Battle of Poelcappelle 9 October 1917. Born 29 July 1893 in Aldham, Essex, enlisted Colchester. Son of Jessie Rayner. Resident Hemps Green and Weavers Green Fordham. Brother John Rayner was killed in 1916 (see below). Formerly 27509, Norfolk Regiment. Commemorated on TYNE COT MEMORIAL, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 28 to 30 and 162 to 162A and 163A. Also commemorated on a memorial plaque which was in the Countess of Huntingdon’s Connexion Chapel in Fordham. The plaque is now at The Essex Regimental Museum Chelmsford Essex.
RAYNER	John Thomas	Private 24999, 2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment. Killed in action at Le Transloy Ridge 23 October 1916. Born 10 March 1892 in Aldham, Essex, and resident Fordham, enlisted Colchester. Buried in CATERPILLAR VALLEY CEMETERY, LONGUEVAL, Somme, France. Plot V. Row H. Grave 1. Also commemorated on a memorial plaque which was in the Countess of Huntingdon’s Connexion Chapel in Fordham. The plaque is now at The Essex Regimental Museum Chelmsford Essex.
TAYLOR	Charles Sidney	Private 40060, 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. 3rd Division. Killed in action at the Battle of Selle 23 October 1918, aged 26. Born 23 October 1892 in Fordham, Essex, enlisted Warley. Son of Walter and Emily (nee Bones) Taylor, High Park Corner, Wormingford, Colchester, Essex.Resident of Plummers Road Fordham. Buried in ROMERIES COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, Nord, France. Plot I. Row E. Grave 25. Also commemorated on a memorial plaque which was in the Countess of Huntingdon’s Connexion Chapel in Fordham. The plaque is now at The Essex Regimental Museum Chelmsford Essex.
WRIGHT	Ernest James	Private 16555, 10th Battalion, Essex Regiment. Killed in action at The Battle of Thiepval Ridge 26 September 1916. Born 19 June 1894 in Fordham, Essex, enlisted Colchester. Son of George and Sarah (nee Hammond) Wright. Resident of Church Road, Fordham. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Face 10 Panel D. Also commemorated on a memorial plaque which was in the Countess of Huntingdon’s Connexion Chapel in Fordham. The plaque is now at The Essex Regimental Museum Chelmsford Essex.
TO COMMEMORATE THE CENTENARY OF THE GREAT WAR, THESE FORDHAM MEN ARE ALSO HONOURED
ARNOLD	Fred	Driver M/347147, 1017th Mechanical Transport Company, Royal Army Service Corps. Died of pneumonia in Mesopotamia 18 October 1918, aged 31. Born 22 April 1887 in Fordham, Essex, enlisted Colchester. Son of the late George Marshall Arnold and Henrietta (nee Wainwright) Hughes, formerly Arnold; husband ofEliza Maud (nee Pettitt) Arnold, of 34, West Street, Colchester, married in 1911 in St Giles Parish Church, Colchester, Essex. A coach-builder and sign-writer. Resident of Magdalene Street Colchester and Main Road Fordham. Buried in BASRA WAR CEMETRY, Iraq. Plot I. Row Q. Grave 21.
BAILEY	Edgar Harvey	Driver 163562, 47th Division Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery. Died of wounds 13 August 1917, aged 41. Born 7 April 1876 in Copford, Essex, enlisted Colchester, Essex. Son of Joseph Bailey and Harriet Firmin. Husband of Eva Bunton married in 1900 All Saints Parish Church Fordham Essex. Children Nellie born 1902, Oliver born 1903, Alfred Dick born 1907 West Bergholt. Resident of Main Road and Plummers Road, Fordham, and The Heath, West Bergholt. Remembered on the Bailey family grave in All Saints Church Fordham Essex. Buried in LOCRE HOSPICE CEMETERY, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot I. Row B. Grave 25.
BOUTELL	Amos Arthur George	Private 34898, 1st Battalion, Essex Regiment. Died 16 August 1917, aged 39. Born 4 July 1878 in Fordham Essex. Parents George and Jane (nee Pudney) Boutell. Husband of Ethel Louisa (nee Woods) Boutell, married 28 March 1912 in Greenstead Parish Church, Essex. Children Sydney born 1913 and Harold born 1916. Resident of Great Braxted, West Bergholt and Colchester. Buried in POELCAPELLE BRITISH CEMETERY, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot XLI. Row E. Grave 5.
BUNTING	George	[Listed as BUNTON on birth record] Private, G/51189, 24th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. Killed in action 29 April 1917, aged 39. Born 10 January 1878 in Fordham, Essex, enlisted Colchester. Son of James and Maria Elizabeth (nee Laver) Bunting, of View Cottage, Colne Road, Copford, Essex. Cousin of Walter Perry son of George’s aunt Caroline Bunting who married George Perry. Resident of Copford. Formerly Duke of Edinburgh’s (Wiltshire Regiment). Commemorated on ARRAS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 3.
CHINNERY	Alfred George	Private 6906, "B" Company, 1st Battalion, Hampshire Regiment. Died of wounds 12 May 1915, aged 22, as a prisoner of war at Kriegslaz 127/11 Iseghem. Born 5 December 1883 in Fordham, Essex. Son of George and Elizabeth (nee Shead) Chinnery. Alfred and his family moved away from Fordham after the 1891 census. Resident of Bradford upon Avon, Wiltshire. Originally buried in Iseghem Communal, but was later reburied in HARLEBEKE NEW BRITISH CEMETERY, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot XII. Row C. Grave 2.
EVERITT	Charles Samuel	Private, G/43059, 20th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment). Died whilst prisoner of war during the 4th Battle of Ypres 23 April 1918, aged 28. Born 24 November 1890 in Fordham, Essex, enlisted Colchester. Son of Joseph Alfred Bartholomew and Annie Louisa (nee Dowse) Everitt, Rose Green, Chapple, Essex. Brother to William Everitt who died 4 November 1917 age 19 and is buried at Mount Huon, Le Treport France. Both brothers are remembered on the Chappel and Wakes Colne War Memorial. Charles was born in Fordham and the family lived in Fordham when he was young. William was neither born or resident in Fordham and is not on the Fordham Memorial. Formerly G/10588, The Queen’s. Royal West Surry Regiment. Buried in LILLE SOUTHERN CEMETERY, Nord, France. Plot III. Row C. Grave 10.
KETTLE	Albert Edward	Private 9980, "C" Company, 2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment. Died of wounds 17 April 1918, aged 26. Born 12 February 1893 in Fordham, Essex, enlisted Colchester. Son of John and Alice (nee Nice) Kettle, of 8, Ash Green, Colchester. Buried in GONNEHEM BRITISH CEMETERY, Bethune, Pas de Calais, France. Row A. Grave 3. Albert and his brother Henry (below) are also commemorated inside the church at St. Michael’s and All Angels Copford Essex.
KETTLE	Henry William	Private 18609 2nd Battalion Essex Regiment. Killed in action during First Battle of the Scarpe 9 April 1917, age 29. Born 15 February 1889 in Fordham, Essex. Son of John and Alice (nee Nice) Kettle, of 8, Ash Green, Colchester. Resident of 8, Ash Green. Buried in FAMPOUX BRITISH CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Row A. Grave 8. Henry and his brother Albert (above) are also commemorated inside the church at St. Michael’s and All Angels Copford Essex.
MILLER	Walter	Private 10078, 2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment. Died of wounds 2 November 1914. Born 21 January 1895 in Fordham, Essex, and resident Fordham, Essex, enlisted Colchester. Son of Walter and Esther (nee Hyam) Miller. Resident of Hemps Green Fordham. Buried in CITE BONJEAN MILITARY CEMETERY, ARMENTIERES, Nord, France. Plot IX. Row B. Grave 94. Also commemorated at St. Barnabus Church, Chappel, Essex.
PERRY	Walter	Lance Corporal P/2888, Military Foot Police, Military Police Corps. Died at Stationary Hospital, Port Amelia, Portuguese East Africa from Malaria and Blackwater Fever 9 July 1918, aged 25. Born 29 August 1893 in Fordham, Essex. Son of George Perry and Caroline Bunting. Resident of Fordham Heath. Buried in PEMBA CEMETERY, Mozambique. Row D. Grave 15. Also commemorated inside Copford Church and also on the Essex Constabulary Memorial in Chelmsford, Essex.
STARLING	Walter Edward	Boy First Class J/34735, H.M.S. Pembroke, Royal Navy. Died 28 November 1915 from Appendicitis, aged 15. Born 9 September 1899 in Fordham, Essex. Son of George and Martha (nee French) Starling. Resident of Hemps Green, Fordham and Colchester Union Workhouse, Popes Lane, Colchester. Buried in MALO-LES-BAINS COMMUNAL CEMETERY, Nord, France. Plot I. Row A. Grave 3A..
WEBBER	Harry George	Private, G/21207, 1st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Killed in action at the Battle of Cambrai 8 October 1918, aged 23. Born 7 March 1895 in Fordham, Essex. Son of Thomas and Frances (nee Waters) Webberr, of Foxes Corner, Copford, Colchester. Resident of Fordham Heath and Copford. No known grave. Commmemorated on VIS-EN-ARTOIS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 3.
1939-1945
BUGG, MM	James	Sergeant. 16th & 5th Lancers Royal Armoured Corps. 317628. Awarded the Military Medal (M.M.). Died 24 April 1943 age 28. Born in 1915 and resident of Church Road Fordham. Son of Harry Bugg and Maud Bugg (nee Norfolk.) Buried Massicault War Cemetery Tunisia. IV.G.8. James changed his surname to Graham as recorded in the London Gazette 5 April 1940. Therefore, his death information is recorded under James Graham on CWGC. Sergeant Graham was awarded the Military Medal. This is the citation:- ‘On the 9th April 1943 he drove his tank alongside his troop leader’s tank which had been knocked out, set on fire and burning fiercely. Although only 300 yards from an A/tank position he assisted his troop leader to the ground, then jumped on the tank and successfully pulled the driver to safety, the driver was unconscious and on fire. He then went back to the tank which was now exploding because of the ammunition and tried to rescue the co-driver, but only gave up finding the door was looked from the inside. His courage and is an inspiration to us all.’
CUDMORE	Douglas Edward	Private 14392163, 1st Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment. Died 5 March 1945, aged 20. Son of George and Florence (nee Polley) Cudmore, Fordham, Essex. Buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany. Plot L. Row F. Grave 17.
HEWITT	John Albert	Private 1034752, Pioneer Corps. Died whilst prisoner of war 27 January 1945, aged 51. Born 1st January 1895. Resident of Fordham. Husband of Rose Hewitt (nee Hill.) Father of Donald and Audrey. Buried in Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery, Poland. Plot VII. Row A. Grave 5.
TREBY	John Arthur	Sergeant (Flight Engineer) 1867730, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died 1 June 1944, aged 19. Born 11th May 1925 Fordham. Resident of Hemps Green Fordham. Son of John and Ingeborg Treby. Buried in Montrose (Sleepyhillock) Cemetery, Angus, Scotland. Grave Section, Class C. Grave 19. John died on a training exercise. On 31 May 1944, a Halifax LL414 aircraft, from the 1667 Heavy Conversional Unit Squadron, based at Sandtoft, in Lincolnshire, took flight for a night cross country exercise. It crashed in the early hours of 1 June because of bad weather and engine failure; it went down in the GlenIsla area Montrose. On board the aircraft were eight airmen including John, six of whom were with the Royal Canadian Air Force. There were no survivors.

Last updated 3 August, 2020

War Memorials Trust