Roll of Honour - Hertfordshire - Whitwell & St Paul's Walden

Ministry of Defence

Lest We Forget

The Royal British Legion

WHITWELL / ST PAUL’S WALDEN WAR MEMORIAL (HERTS)

World War 1 & 2 - Roll of Honour with detailed information
Compiled and copyright © 2000 Lynda Smith

The Memorial stands at the junction of Whitwell High Street, and the road to St. Paul’s Walden. It takes the form of a Celtic cross atop a small plinth with a base and two steps. There is a Crusader sword embossed on the front of the cross shaft and four steps lead up to the memorial which stands on a small grass mound. The memorial is surrounded by eight small pillars linked by ornamental iron chains with a further series of nine, larger, pillars positioned in front of the memorial, which are also linked by iron chains. The main memorial components are made from axed Cornish granite. There are 23 names listed for World War 1 and 10 for World War 2. The memorial was dedicated by the Reverend H S C Whitehouse and unveiled by Viscount Hampden 15 May 1921. The memorial was built by W. J. Andrews & Son of Hertford.

TO THE GLORY OF GOD
AND IN EVER BLESSED AND GRATEFUL MEMORY
OF THOSE MEN FROM THIS PARISH WHO LAID
DOWN THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR

GROOM

David

Private 8332, 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action Sunday 25 October 1914. Born Whitwell. Lived Kimpton. Enlisted Digswell. Buried in GUARDS CEMETERY, WINDY CORNER, CUINCHY, Pas de Calais, France. Plot IV. Row E. Grave 33.

EDENS

Thomas

No further information available at present.

BOWES LYON

The Hon. Fergus

Captain, 8th Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders). Killed in action Monday 27 September 1915. Aged 26. Son of 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, of Glamis Castle, Forfarshire; husband of Lady Christian Bowes-Lyon (now Lady Christian Martin). Educated at Eton. Previously served with 2nd Battalion in India. Embarked Folkestone 10 May 1915. The Hon. Fergus Bowes-Lyon was an elder brother of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. St Paul’s Walden Bury was one of the homes of the Earl and Countess of Strathmore. Buried at QUARRY CEMETERY, VERMELLES, Pas de Calais, France. Row A. Grave 15.

WELLS

Charles

Private 6502, 5th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Died Tuesday 11 April 1916. Aged 21. Born and lived Whitwell. Enlisted Bedford. Son of Mrs. L. Wells. Buried in ST. PAUL'S WALDEN (ALL SAINTS) CHURCHYARD, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom.

CAIN

Herbert Vincent

Private 3145, 1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment. Killed in action Saturday 27 May 1916. Aged 32. Lived Whitwell. Enlisted Hertford. Son of Mrs. Mary Jane Cain, of Bootmaker's Cottage, Shenley, Barnet. Buried in LE TOURET MILITARY CEMETERY, RICHEBOURG-L'AVOUE, Pas de Calais, France. Plot III. Row F. Grave 33.

BIGG

Seamont Archibald

Lance Corporal 4838, 1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment. Killed in action Thursday 3 August 1916. Lived Whitwell. Enlisted Hertford. Buried in BROWN'S ROAD MILITARY CEMETERY, FESTUBERT, Pas de Calais, France. Plot II. Row C. Grave 12.

RADFORD

Charles

No further information available at present

STARMER

Richard

No further information available at present

CLARIDGE

Arthur William Thomas

Private G/21209, 6th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died of wounds Thursday 4 October 1917. Aged 29. Born Stapely (possibly Stopsley) Beds. Lived Bendish. Enlisted Luton. Son of Hannah Claridge. Buried in DUISANS BRITISH CEMETERY, ETRUN, Pas de Calais, France. Plot V. Row B. Grave 48.

ASBURY

Albert William

Private 35586. 11th Battalion, Essex Regiment. Died of wounds Friday 22 June 1917. Born and lived Whitwell. Enlisted Hertford. Buried in BETHUNE TOWN CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Plot VI. Row F. Grave 17.

WELLS

Bertie

Private 35606, 1st Battalion, Essex Regiment. Killed in action Tuesday 22 May 1917. Born and lived Whitwell. Enlisted Hitchin. No known grave. Commemorated on ARRAS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France Bay 7.

SPICER

Edward

Possibly: Private 36453, 2nd Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment. Formerly 5742 Hertfordshire Regiment. Killed in action Thursday 16 August 1917. Lived Welwyn. Enlisted Hertford. No known grave. Commemorated on TYNE COT MEMORIAL, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 105 to 106 and 162

SEABROOK

William Arthur

Private 235088, 8th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment. Died of wounds Thursday 11 October 1917. Aged 20. Born Whitwell. Lived Harpenden. Enlisted Hertford. Son of Arthur and Annie Seabrook, of 8, Stanley Cottages, Batford Rd., Harpenden. Buried in LARCH WOOD (RAILWAY CUTTING) CEMETERY, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot V. Row A. Grave 24.

SLEET

Richard

Private 13903, 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action Saturday 20 October 1917. Aged 31. Born and lived St Paul’s Walden. Enlisted Hertford. No known grave. Commemorated on TYNE COT MEMORIAL, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 48 to 50 and 162A

WELLS

Bert(ie) Charles

Possibly: Lance Corporal 2730, 8th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. Killed in action Friday 22 March 1918. Born and Enlisted Hitchin. No known grave. Commemorated on POZIERES MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Panel 44 and 45

GATWARD

William

Private 31161, 34th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. transferred to (60142) 101st Coy., Labour Corps. Died of wounds Wednesday 15 May 1918. Aged 42. Born Paul’s Walden. Lived Whitwell. Enlisted Bedford. Brother of Emily Gatward, of Whitwell, Welwyn, Herts. Buried in ST. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, ROUEN, Seine-Maritime, France. Section Q. Plot II. Row H. Grave 19.

PEACOCK

Percy Charles

Private 265348, 1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment. Killed in action Friday 22 March 1918. Aged 25. Born Hitchin. Lived Hartest, Bury St Edmunds. Enlisted Whitwell. Husband of Mrs. P. Peacock, of 5, High Baster St., Bury St. Edmund's, Suffolk. Buried in VILLERS-FAUCON COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, Somme, France. Plot II. Row D. Grave 10..

FULLER

Frank

No further information available at present.

GROOM

William

Private 18633, 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment transferred to 508608, 693rd Agricultural Coy, Labour Corps. Died Thursday 28 November 1918. Aged 32. Son of Abraham and Lydia Groom; husband of Florence Groom, of High St., Whitwell, Welwyn. Born at Whitwell. Buried in ST. PAUL'S WALDEN (ALL SAINTS) CHURCHYARD, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom.

CARTER

Albert

Edgar

Private 44267, 2nd Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment formerly 307271 Notts & Derby Regiment. Died of wounds Thursday 22 August 1918. Aged 20. Born King’s Walden. Lived Welwyn. Enlisted Hitchin. Son of Charles and Clara Carter, of Garden House, Stagenhoe Park, Welwyn, Herts. Buried in BAGNEUX BRITISH CEMETERY, GEZAINCOURT, Somme, France. Plot VI. Row A. Grave 5.

SHEAF

(Walter) Lionel

Private 72111, 2nd/7th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) Formerly 33149 Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action Thursday 21 March 1918. Aged 19. Born and lived Bendish. Enlisted Luton. Son of Frank Sheaf, of "Bendish,'' Whitwell, Welwyn, Herts. No known grave. Commemorated on ARRAS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 7

JOLLY

Frederick

No further information available at present

JENKINS

Arthur

No further information available at present

AND IN THE 2^ND WORLD WAR 1939 – 1945

BAILEY

Sidney John

Trooper 5834516, 1st King's Dragoon Guards, Royal Armoured Corps. Died Sunday 13 August 1944. Aged 32. Son of George and Emily Ada Bailey; husband of Mildred Annie Bailey, of Whitwell, Hertfordshire. Buried in FLORENCE WAR CEMETERY, Italy. Plot V. Row E. Grave 10.

CLARIDGE

Reginald

Driver T/149282 Royal Army Service Corps attached Royal Engineers. Missing in action presumed killed Tuesday 11 June 1940. Aged 31. Born and resident Hertfordshire. Buried in ST. VALERY-EN-CAUX FRANCO-BRITISH CEMETERY, Seine-Maritime, France. Row D. Grave 60.

CLEMENTS

Raymond

No further information available at present

DEWAR

John [Michael Firth]

Flying Officer 72462, 229 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Lost on patrol 30 March 1941. Aged 24. Son of Michael Bruce Urquhart Dewar and Dorothy Gertrude Dewar, of Hitchin, Hertfordshire. B.A., (Cantab.). No known grave. Commemorated on RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL, Surrey. Panel 30.

Extract from England & Wales Government Probate Death Index 1942:

DEWAR John Michael Firth of Stagenhoe Whitwell near Hitchin Hertfordshire died 30 March 1941 on war service Probate Llandudno 15 January to Jean Myrtle Gabrielle Handfield Jones (wife of Ronald Montague Handfield Jones) and Spencer Allen Block solicitor. Effects £1415 2s. 1d.

Tablet inlaid in church floor:

AD MAJOREM DEI GLORIAM
the Choir Stalls
were erected in the chancel
by MICHAEL DEWAR and
in proud and loving memory
of his wife DOROTHY who
died at Stagenhoe 10th May
1943. and of his eldest son
JOHN MICHAEL FIRTH
R.A.F.V.R., who after fighting
thro' the Battle of britain was lost on patrol 30th March 1941.

EAST

Ernest

Rifleman 14519924, 9th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). Died Sunday 1 October 1944. Aged 34. Son of George and Emma East, of Whitwell, Hertfordshire; husband of Elsie East, of Whitwell. Buried in BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands. Plot 26. Row B. Grave 8.

FREE

Stanley

Private 14271868, Royal Army Medical Corps. Died Saturday 16 September 1944. Son of Eli and Daisy Free; husband of Dorothy Free, of Whitwell. Buried in ST. PAUL'S WALDEN (ALL SAINTS) CHURCHYARD, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom.

GROOM

William

No further information available at present

HARRISON

Victor

Ordinary Seaman P/JX 164106, H.M.S. Durban, Royal Navy. Died Thursday 12 February 1942. Aged 18. Son of Arthur George and Florence May Harrison, of St. Paul's Walden, Hertfordshire. No known grave. Commemorated on PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL, Hampshire, United Kingdom. Panel 65, Column 3.

HILL

Ernest George Edward

Gunner 922775, 135 (The Hertfordshire Yeomanry) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery. Died on Tuesday 1 August 1944. Aged 30. Son of Albert Edward Wood, and of Jane Wood, of Whitwell, Hertfordshire. No known grave. Commemorated on SINGAPORE MEMORIAL, Singapore. Column 36.

TOOLEY

Trevor [James Francis]

Lieutenant 158876, 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Died Tuesday 6 June 1944. Aged 27. Son of Augustus Henry and Agnes Jane Tooley, of Limbury, Bedfordshire; husband of Sheila Doreen Tooley, of Luton, Bedfordshire. Buried in LA DELIVRANDE WAR CEMETERY, DOUVRES, Calvados, France. Plot VIII. Row H. Grave 8.

"THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE"

Last updated 24 March, 2021

War Memorials Trust