Roll of Honour - Bedfordshire

Ministry of Defence

Lest We Forget

The Royal British Legion

PIRTON WAR MEMORIAL WAR MEMORIAL

World War 1 & 2 - Roll of Honour with detailed information
Compiled and copyright © 2003 Lynda Smith

The Memorial stands within St. Mary's Churchyard, by the side of the road in Crab Tree Lane, Pirton. Itb takies the form of a Rough hewn obelisk on square plinth with a two stepped base; plaques are affixed to the plinth showing the inscription and names for World War 1 and 2. There are 30 names for World War 1 and 6 for World War 2. The memorial was unveiled in 1920. For extra information on the people and the memorial see the Pirton Village web site.

Photographs Copyright
© Lynda Smith 2003

1916
CANNON	Frank	Company Serjeant Major 14982 11th Bn., Essex Regiment. Killed in action Tuesday 15 February 1916. Age 32. Born, lived and enlisted Hitchin. Husband of Violet Maud Cannon, of 87, Walsworth Rd., Hitchin. Buried: POTIJZE BURIAL GROUND CEMETERY, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Ref. H. 10.
ABBISS	Albert	Private 429011. 7th Bn., Canadian Infantry (British Columbia Regt.) Died Wednesday 29 March 1916. Age 28. Son of Frank and Elizabeth Abbiss, of Pirton, Hitchin, Herts, England. Albert Abbiss was born on 16 November 1887. He was unmarried, and his occupation was a labourer. His attestation papers are dated 13 March 1915. Further personal information is available from the National Archives of Canada website. Buried: BERKS CEMETERY EXTENSION, Comines-Warneton, Hainaut, Belgium. Ref. III. B. 20.
HANDSCOMBE	Frank	Private 22173. 6th Bn., Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action Tuesday 11 July 1916. Age 22. Born and lived Pirton. Enlisted Mill Hill, Middx. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Handscombe, of Burge End, Pirton, Hitchin, Herts. Buried: GORDON DUMP CEMETERY, OVILLERS-LA BOISSELLE, Somme, France. Ref. V. J. 5.
FRENCH	Joseph	Private 14223. 1st Bn., Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action Monday 4 September 1916. Age 27. Born and lived Pirton. Enlisted Hitchin. Son of William and Mary Ann French, of Holly Tree Cottages, Little Green, Pirton, Hitchin, Herts. Commemorated: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 2 C
PARSELL	John Frederick	Private 2366. 1st Bn., Hertfordshire Regiment. Killed in action Sunday 10 September 1916. Age 18. Born Stotfold, Herts. Lived and enlisted Pirton. Son of John and Sarah Parsell, of Holwell, Hitchin, Herts. Buried: KNIGHTSBRIDGE CEMETERY, MESNIL-MARTINSART, Somme, France. Ref. F. 28.
JENKINS	Alfred Raymond	Private 24100. 1st Bn., Grenadier Guards. Killed in action Sunday 10 September 1916. (CD has 10/12 September 1916). Born Pirton. Enlisted Hitchin. Commemorated: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 8 D
WALKER	Arthur	Private 2364. 1st Bn., Hertfordshire Regiment. Died of wounds Monday 18 September 1916. Age 23. Born, lived and enlisted Pirton. Son of George and Sarah Walker, of Pirton; husband of A. Walker, of Pirton, Hitchin. Buried: BOULOGNE EASTERN CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Ref. VIII. C. 143.
BAINES	Sidney	rivate 26026. 4th Bn., Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action Monday 13 November 1916. Age 23. Born and lived Pirton. Enlisted Bedford. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Baines, of "Burge End, Pirton, Hitchin; husband of Ethel Lily Elms (formerly Baines), of The Grange, Shillington, Hitchin, Herts. Buried: ANCRE BRITISH CEMETERY, BEAUMONT-HAMEL, Somme, France. Ref. I. C. 26.
BURTON	Edward Charles	Private 28050. 2nd Bn., Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action Thursday 21 December 1916. Born and lived Pirton. Enlisted Bedford. Buried: BERLES POSITION MILITARY CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Ref. B. 1.
1917
CRAWLEY	Harry	Private 33153. 6th Bn., Leicestershire Regiment. Formerly 6539 Bedfordshire Regiment. Died of wounds Monday 26 February 1917. Age 35. Born Pirton. Son of Henry Charles and Minnie Crawley, of Middle Farm, Pirton, Hitchin. (CWGC has place as Pinon). Buried: BETHUNE TOWN CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Ref. VI. B. 75.
TRUSSELL	George Thomas	Private G/22199. 6th Bn., The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regt.) Killed in action Tuesday 10 April 1917. Age 28. Born and lived Pirton. Enlisted Hitchin. Son of Mrs. Elizabeth Trussell, of Burge End, Pirton, Herts. Commemorated: ARRAS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 2
HANDSCOMBE	Joseph	Private 23086. 4th Bn., Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action Monday 23 April 1917. Born and lived Pirton. Enlisted Ampthill. Commemorated: ARRAS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 5
SMITH	Harry	Corporal 265408. 1st Bn., Hertfordshire Regiment. Killed in action Tuesday 31 July 1917. Born, lived and enlisted Pirton. Buried: TYNE COT CEMETERY, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Ref. X. D. 5.
BAINES	William	Private 204361. 12th Bn., East Surrey Regiment. Formerly 20341 Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action on Wednesday 1 August 1917. Born Pirton. Lived Letchworth. Enlisted Bedford. Commemorated: YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 34
HILL	William Thomas	8th Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers. No further information available at present.
TITMUSS	Albert John	orporal L/37084. "B Bty. 169th Bde., Royal Field Artillery. Killed in action Tuesday 23 October 1917. Age 32. Born Holwell, Beds. Lived Ickleford, Herts. Enlisted Hitchin. Son of George and Emma Titmuss, of Pirton, Hitchin, Herts.; husband of Elsie Titmuss, of Little Green, Pirton. Buried: PERTH CEMETERY (CHINA WALL), Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Ref. VI. J. 7.
BURTON	Fred	Serjeant 200950. 2nd/4th Bn Princess Charlotte of Wales’s Royal Berkshire Regiment. Killed in action on Sunday 2 December 1917. Age 29. Born and lived Pirton. Enlisted Reading, Berks. Son of David and Rose Burton. Buried: FIFTEEN RAVINE BRITISH CEMETERY, VILLERS-PLOUICH, Nord, France. Ref. VIII. D. 17.
REYNOLDS	Walter	Private 242137. 2nd/5th Bn., Gloucestershire Regiment. Killed in action Sunday 2 December 1917. Born Hitchin. Enlisted Pirton. Commemorated: CAMBRAI MEMORIAL, LOUVERVAL, Nord, France. Ref. Panel 6
1918
ODELL	Arthur	Lance Corporal G/15640. 13th Bn., Royal Sussex Regiment. Killed in action Tuesday 26 February 1918. Age 21. Born and enlisted Pirton. Son of Mrs. M. Odell, of 2 Royal Oak Lane, Pirton, Hitchin, Herts. Buried: FINS NEW BRITISH CEMETERY, SOREL-LE-GRAND, Somme, France. Ref. IV. C. 10.
WILSHERE	Charles	(WILSHER on CWGC & CD) Lance Serjeant G/15042. 21st Bn., Middlesex Regiment. Killed in action Sunday 24 March 1918. Born Pirton. Lived Finsbury Park, Middx. Enlisted Holloway, Middx. Commemorated: ARRAS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 7
WILSON	Bertram W N	Private 23187. 4th Bn., Bedfordshire Regiment (8th Battalion on memorial). Killed in action Wednesday 27 March 1918. Born and lived Pirton. Enlisted Hitchin. Commemorated: ARRAS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 5
CHAMBERLAIN, DCM	Henry George	Private 20655. 2nd Bn., Suffolk Regiment. Died of wounds Saturday 20 April 1918. Age 39. Born Pirton. Enlisted Hitchin. Nephew of Elizabeth Gazeley, of Pirton, Hitchin, Herts. Buried: PERNES BRITISH CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Ref. I. C. 2.
CHARLICK	George	Private 698133. 1st/22nd Bn., London Regiment. Formerly 452330 2/11th London Regiment. Killed in action Monday 17 June 1918. Born Enfield. Lived Rosebery Avenue. Enlisted Holborn. Commemorated: POZIERES MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Panel 86 and 87
ANDERSON	Fred	Private 18618. 8th Bn., Bedfordshire Regiment. Transf. to (84038) 141st Coy. , Labour Corps. Died Monday 8 July 1918. Age 35. Born Norton, Herts. Lived Hitchin. Enlisted Bedford. Husband of Lilian Lizzie Anderson, of 5, Periwinkle Lane, Hitchin, Herts. Buried: AUBIGNY COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, Pas de Calais, France. Ref. IV. J. 41.
REYNOLDS	Albert	Driver 90497. 139th Heavy Bty., Royal Garrison Artillery. Died of wounds Friday 9 August 1918. Age 35. Born Pirton. Lived Windlesham, Surrey. Enlisted Camberley, Surrey. Son of Lewis and Mary Ann Reynolds; husband of Caroline Reynolds, of Laurel Cottage, Windlesham, Surrey. Buried: PERNOIS BRITISH CEMETERY, HALLOY-LES-PERNOIS, Somme, France. Ref. III. B. 14.
PEARCE	Francis J	Probably: John Pearce. Rifleman O/127. Posted to 1st Bn. , London Regt (Post Office Rifles). Killed in action on Monday 9 September 1918. Born and lived Pirton. Enlisted Hitchin. Buried: EPEHY WOOD FARM CEMETERY, EPEHY, Somme, France. Ref. V. I. 2.
BAINES	Frederick	Private G/15609. 8th Bn., Royal Sussex Regiment. Killed in action Wednesday 23 October 1918. Born and enlisted Pirton. Buried: HIGHLAND CEMETERY, LE CATEAU, Nord, France. Ref. IV. C. 9.
LAKE	Arthur S	Royal Garrison Artillery. No further information available at present.
ABBISS	Frank	1st Bedfords. No further information available at present.
1919
ODELL	Frederick	Private G/82152. Royal Fusiliers. Died Wednesday 23 April 1919. Age 19. Son of John and Mary Odell, of Royal Oak Lane, Pirton. Buried: PIRTON (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom. Ref. 152.
RIP
IN MEMORY OF THE MEN WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES DURING THE WAR 1939 – 1945
1942
DAY	Walter James	Aircraftman 1st Class. 1214418 980 Balloon Sqdn, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died Saturday 20 June 1942. Age 32. Son of Stephen James and Louisa Elizabeth Day, of Pirton, Hertfordshire. Buried: TEHRAN WAR CEMETERY, Iran. Ref. 2. C. 4.
1943
MALES	Frederick John	Ordinary Seaman C/JX 376323. H.M.S. Armadillo, Royal Navy. Died Saturday 22 May 1943. Age 20. Son of Arthur and Minnie Males, of Pirton, Hertfordshire. Commemorated: CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL, Kent, United Kingdom. 70, 2.
1944
LINDSELL	Edward Stratton	Flying Officer 129342. 177 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died Wednesday 5 April 1944. Age 32. Son of Arthur and Frances Lindsell; husband of Molly Lindsell. Commemorated: SINGAPORE MEMORIAL, Singapore. Column 432.
FOLLINGTON	Douglas Charles	Serjeant 1875955. 2nd Wing, Glider Pilot Regiment, A.A.C. Died Sunday 17 September 1944. Age 26. Son of Charles Samuel and Marian Elizabeth Follington, of Pirton, Hertfordshire; husband of Elsie Follington. Buried: ARNHEM OOSTERBEEK WAR CEMETERY, Gelderland, Netherlands. Ref. 32. B. 1.
JARVIS	Robert	Private 5956643. 5th Bn., Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regt. Died Thursday 21 September 1944. Age 32. Son of James and Louisa Jarvis; husband of Nora Jarvis, of Pirton, Hertfordshire. Commemorated: SINGAPORE MEMORIAL, Singapore. Column 63.
1945
HIBBURD	Robin Edward Alastair	Lieutenant (A). H.M.S. Indomitable, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Died Wednesday 24 January 1945. Commemorated: LEE-ON-SOLENT MEMORIAL, Hampshire, United Kingdom. Bay 6, Panel 3.
RIP

Last updated 17 July, 2019

War Memorials Trust