Jack

Private, 14275, 1^st Northamptonshire Regiment. Killed in action Aubers Ridge 09-05-15. Born Chesterfield, enlisted Peterborough, resident 25, Milton Road, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Commemorated on Le Touret Memorial, Panels 28/30.

Fred A

Private, 203415, Frederick Arthur Anthony, 1/15^th Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Killed in action 26-10-17. Formerly 1539, Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion. Born Peterborough, enlisted Huntingdon, resident 22, Victoria Place, St Margaret's Road, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony, who had five sons in the army. Two killed, one gassed and two still in the service. Private Charles S. Anthony, Northamptonshire Regiment, has been gassed and is now in hospital at Dundee, he is the fifth son. Buried in Hooge Crater Cemetery, Grave IX.B.01

Herbert

Private, 8313, 3^rd Northamptonshire Regiment. 1914 Star. Died at home 23-02-16. Born and enlisted Peterborough, resident 22, Victoria Place, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Buried in Peterborough (Broadway) Cemetery.

J

Private, 26902, John Goodliffe Atkins, 2^nd Wiltshire Regiment. Killed in action 09-04-17. Formerly 3/26374, Lincolnshire Regiment. Born Old Fletton, enlisted Lincoln, resident 119, High Street, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Commemorated on Arras Memorial, Bay 07.

Harry

Private, 13026, Henry Bentley, 2^nd Northamptonshire Regiment. Killed in action 14-03-15. Born Old Fletton, enlisted Peterborough, resident Persimmon Terrace, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Commemorated on Le Touret Memorial, Panels 28/30.

J

Private, 13748, Harold Robert Burchnell, 2^nd Northamptonshire Regiment. Killed in action Aubers Ridge 09-05-15. Born Old Fletton, enlisted Peterborough, resident 7, Princes Road, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Commemorated on Ploegsteert Memorial, Panel 07.

Arthur

Sergeant, 7731, 1^st Northamptonshire Regiment. Died of wounds (Accidentally shot) at Cerisy 28-04-17. Born and enlisted Peterborough, resident 11, Silver Street, Peterborough. Buried in Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery, Grave I.C.07.

Frank

L/Corporal, 7346, 5^th Northamptonshire Regiment. Killed in action near Cambrai 29-11-17. Born and enlisted Peterborough, resident 11, Silver Street, Peterborough. Commemorated on Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, Panel 08.

G

Private, 30171, George Brandham, 1/14^th Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Killed in action 04-10-17. Formerly 0823, Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion. Born and enlisted Old Fletton, resident 45, Duke Street, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Panels 9a/9b/9d.

David

L/Corporal, 14651, 5^th Northamptonshire Regiment. Killed in action 27-03-18. Born Newborough, enlisted Peterborough, resident 1, Church Lane, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Buried in Bouzincourt Communal Cemetery Extension, Grave I.J.07.

John

Private, 14972, Thomas John Bright, 7^th Northamptonshire Regiment. Killed in action Loos 27-09-15. Born Winwick, enlisted Peterborough, resident 187, Fletton Avenue, Peterborough. Loos Memorial, Panels 91/93.

[Harry] Joseph

Private, 20702, 1/5th Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Killed in action 22 August 1916. Formerly 0060, Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion. Born Winwick, enlisted Old Fletton, resident 187, Fletton Avenue, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Panels 9a/9b/9d. See also Filey, Yorkshire

Additional information by Derek Smith

Harry was not the first of the Fallen to have their name spelt incorrectly on the Fletton Memorial. Quite why he is given the wrong name is unknown, but Joseph is definitely Harry.

Harry was born to Walter and Mary Elizabeth Bright in 1894 at Winwick, Huntingdonshire. Walter was a farm worker. In 1901 the family was living in Willow Hall Lane, Thorney, with Walter working on the Willow Hall Estate. Unfortunately Walter died in 1902, leaving Harry fatherless until Mary remarried William Spreckley in 1905. William , a railway labourer, had two children from a previous marriage. On his union with Mary he also inherited five Bright siblings. Mary and William then proceeded to consummate their union with three further children, all twelve of them living at the six roomed 14 Duke Street, Fletton. Of the five sons, John had already fallen, Arthur would die at Passchendaele, Harry died on the Somme.

At the outbreak of the war in August 1914, Harry, working as a brickyard labourer, was probably an existing member of the Hunts Cyclists, given his low regimental number of 489. At the outbreak of war in August 1914, his Battalion, the 1st/1st was ‘embodied’ and posted to its war station at Grimsby. AS he was serving with the 1/1st Battalion, Harry had signed the Overseas Service Declaration, but at the start of the war, the Hunts Cyclists were used for home defence, principally in fear of a German invasion. Without his service records, we do not have a detailed account of Harry’s movements. We do know that Harry and his unit moved to Filey in 1915, where Harry found love and married local girl Jane Johnson in the third quarter of that year in Scarborough. They subsequently had a child. Following Harry’s death, Jane remarried John Holmes in July 1922. She passed away in September 1941.

The Hunts Cyclists were never posted overseas, but provided drafts to other units, principally to the territorial battalions of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. One quarter of the men from Fletton who died on the Somme, served with the Warwicks.

We do not know when Harry was posted to his unit, the 1st/5th Warwicks, but we do know that it wasn’t prior to 1916, as Harry’s Medal Index Card doesn’t entitle him to a 1914/15 Star. The 1st/5th were mobilized at the start of the war, after further training at Chelmsford, they landed at Le Harvre on the 22nd March 1915.

The original entry on Harry’s effects statement has him as attached to the 1st/5th, indicating that his time with the Battalion was very short, as the paperwork transferring him hadn’t come through. Subsequently ‘attd’ is struck and ‘formerly’ of the Hunts Cyclists is written in by another hand. Harry’s effects statement also, unusually, gives a range of date of death from the 22nd-24th August 1916.

During that period the Battalion were in the line, just outside Ovillers in the centre of the Somme battlefield. There were no attacks or patrols, just what the Army called at the time ‘trench wastage’. Four ‘other ranks’ died, one of whom was Harry.

Harry’s body was not recovered, or was lost in the next two years of fighting. A local newspaper reported his death as follows:-

H

Corporal, 12903, Herbert Broughton, 7^th Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action Ovillers 03-07-16, aged 26. Born Fletton, enlisted Cambridge. Son of John and Jane Broughton, 36 Duke Street, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Panels 01C/02A.

W B

Private, 31883, William Bottomley Brown, 6^th Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action 29-04-17, aged 24. Born Spalding, enlisted Bedford, resident 171, High Street, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Husband of Mrs. Millicent Brown, 7, Priestgate, Peterborough. Commemorated on Arras Memorial, Bay 05.

Alfred

Corporal, 42526, 2^nd Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action Ecoust 30-08-18. Born and enlisted Haddenham. Son of John and Harriet Burton, High Street, Haddenham, Ely; husband of Ellen Augusta Burton, 14, St. Margaret's Place, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Commemorated on Vis-en-Artois Memorial, Panel 04.

James

Private, 50508, 2^nd Middlesex Regiment. Died of wounds 01-09-17. Born Stilton, enlisted Bedford, resident 51, St. Margaret’s Road, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Buried in Wimereux Communal Cemetery, Grave VI.A.8A.

Thomas

No further information currently.

William Allen

Private, G/19866, 10^th Queen’s Own, Royal West Kent Regiment. Died of wounds 19-04-18, aged 36. Formerly GS/4956, Lancers. Born Fen Drayton, enlisted Peterborough, resident 103 High Street, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Husband of Mrs. S. E. Lincoln (formerly Chappell), 7, Buckingham Road, Wood Green, London. Buried in Haringhe (Bandaghem) Military Cemetery, Belgium, Grave V.C.02.

Walter

Private, 26907, 2^nd Wiltshire Regiment. Killed in action 21-03-18. Formerly 3/26373, Lincolnshire Regiment and 838, Hampshire Regiment. Born Peterborough, enlisted Lincoln, resident 8, St. Margaret's Road, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Commemorated on Pozieres Memorial, Panel 64.

George Gregory

Private, 40529, 7^th Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action 09-04-17, aged 24. Born Peterborough, enlisted Uppingham, resident Bridge End, Peterborough. A baker at Uppingham. Buried in Tilloy British Cemetery, Tilloy-Les-Mofflaines, Grave I.A.37.

William

Private, 8085, 1^st Northamptonshire Regiment. Killed in action 10-11-14. Born Elton, enlisted Northampton, resident 5, Victoria Place, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Commemorated on Menin Gate Memorial, Panels 43/45.

William George

Private, 268476, 1/7^th Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Killed in action 11-08-17, aged 21. Formerly 0074, Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion. Born and enlisted Old Fletton, resident 103, High Street, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Son of George and Sarah Ann Cunnington, 4, Hicks Lane, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Commemorated on Menin Gate Memorial, Panel 08.

Gilbert Haley

2^nd Lieutenant, 9^th Essex Regiment. Killed in action near Nurlu 06-09-18. Born and enlisted Peterborough, resident 1, St. Margaret's Road, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Buried in Peronne Communal Cemetery Extension, Grave V.M.07.

Charles Herbert

Private, 9220, 2^nd Northamptonshire Regiment Killed in action 31-12-14, aged 21. Born Nuneaton, enlisted Northampton. Step-son of Emma Dean, 27, George Street, New Fletton, Peterborough. Buried in Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Givenchy, Grave IX.C.37.

Percival

Private, 43049, 1^st Lincolnshire Regiment. Died of illness and starvation whilst prisoner of war 20-09-18. Resident 23, Milton Road, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Buried in Landrecies Communal Cemetery, Grave C.07.

Fred

Private, 14265, Frederick Robert Foster, 6^th Northamptonshire Regiment. Killed in action 05-04-18. Born Heston, Middlesex, enlisted Northampton, resident 63, Tower Street, Peterborough. Buried in Pozieres Memorial, Panels 54/56.

John Cecil

Captain, 6^th Lincolnshire Regiment. Killed in action 20-08-17, aged 23. Son of Robert John Foster, O.B.E., and Mrs. E. G. Foster, 15, Albany Road, St. Leonards, Sussex. Also served in Gallipoli. Resident 'Medehampstead', London Road, Peterborough. Buried in Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery, Grave VII.F.01.

Robert Douglas

Lieutenant, 6^th Lincolnshire Regiment. Killed in action Suvla Bay 07-08-15. Son of Robert John Foster, O.B.E., and Mrs. E. G. Foster, 15, Albany Road, St. Leonards, Sussex. Resident 'Medehampstead', London Road, Peterborough. Commemorated on Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Panels 44/46.

Edward

Private, 238472, Labour Corps. Died of pneumonia at Beverley Military Hospital, Yorkshire, 13-11-18. Formerly Northumberland Fusiliers. Resident 42, Queens Road, Old Fletton, Peterborough. No Trace SDGW. Buried in Old Fletton Cemetery, Peterborough, Grave East (NC) 603.

William Percy

L/Corporal, 26838, 7^th Northamptonshire Regiment. Died of wounds 01-11-17, aged 31. Formerly 5000, Royal Field Artillery. Born and enlisted Peterborough, resident 136, Fletton Avenue, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Son of Mr. W. J. Goodwin and Mrs. F. Goodwin; husband of Mabel Goodwin, 10, Stracey Road, Norwich. St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Grave P.III.S.5B.

James Thomas Woolaston

Private, 75, 28^th Bn. Australian Infantry (AIF). Killed in action Pozieres 29-07-16, aged 21. Born Godmanchester, Hunts. Enlisted Australia 01-03-15. Son of George and Flora Millicent Green, 44, Grove Street, New Fletton, Peterborough, England. (Brother Private George Green also served in the AIF). Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Somme.

Fred

Private, 57855, 16^th Cheshire Regiment. Killed in action 29-03-17. Formerly 3778, Royal Engineers. Born Southoe, Hunts, enlisted Hitchin, resident 53, Queens Road, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Left a widow and 3 children. Son of Mrs. Mary Hagger and the late Mr. Fred Hagger, Bell Inn, Southoe. Buried in Mesnil-St. Nicaise Churchyard, Somme.

Harry

L/Corporal, 20691, 7^th Northamptonshire Regiment. Died of wounds 27-01-17, aged 21. Born and enlisted Peterborough. Son of John and Mary Hammond, Inspectors House, GER Station, Peterborough. Buried in Longuenesse (St. Omer) Souvenir Cemetery, Grave IV.B.15.

Christmas

Private, 16422, 2^nd Northamptonshire Regiment. Killed in action Aubers Ridge 09-05-15. Born and enlisted Peterborough, resident 67, Queens Walk, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Commemorated on Ploegsteert Memorial, Panel 07.

Frederick William

Private, 40222, 9^th Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action 21-10-16. Resident 11, Duke Street, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Son of Frederick and Elizabeth Harrison, Park Avenue, King's Lynn, Norfolk. Late Bandsman of the 5^th Bn. Norfolk Territorials. Buried in Grove Town Cemetery, Meaulte, Grave I.N.40.

Bertie James

Sapper, 43327, 14^th Division Signals Co. Royal Engineers. Killed in action 03-12-17, aged 20. Son of Jack and Florence Edith Hibbert, 28, Victoria Place, Old Fletton, Peterborough. A linesman with G.P.O. Buried in Tyne Cot Cemetery, Zonnebeke, Grave XX.A.08.

Charles

Private, 42318, 3^rd Bn. Canadian Infantry (CEF). Killed in action Hangard Wood 08-08-18. Born Peterborough, enlisted Valcartier, Canada, 25-09-14. Son of Mrs. Sarah Hills, 50, St. Margaret’s Road, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Commemorated on Vimy Memorial, Arras.

John (Jack)

Private, 33017, 2/4^th Leicestershire Regiment. Died of wounds 25-03-18. Formerly 6444, Bedfordshire Regiment. Born March Fen, enlisted Bedford. Son of Mrs. Sarah Hills, 50, St. Margaret’s Road, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Buried in Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension, Grave III.G.111.

Alfred Walter

Private, 29760, 7^th Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action 23-10-16. Born Farcet, enlisted Bedford, resident 14, Victoria Place, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Buried in Pozieres British Cemetery, Grave I.D.11.

John William

Private, 25511, 2^nd Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action near Loos 12-08-16. Resident 14, Victoria Place, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Commemorated on Loos Memorial, Panel 14.

Walter George

Private, 20784, 1/8^th Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Killed in action 27-08-16, aged 18. Formerly 0317, Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion. Born and enlisted Old Fletton, Peterborough. Son of Walter and Elizabeth Hounsham, Hick's Lane, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Panels 9a/9b/10b.

Albert William

Private, 22321, 1^st Northamptonshire Regiment. Killed in action Loos 25-09-15. Born and enlisted Peterborough. Son of Isaac and Ruth Hughes, 59, High Street, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Brother of Isaac Reginald Hughes who also fell. Commemorated on Loos Memorial, Panels 91/93.

Isaac Reginald

L/Corporal, 43034, 1^st Bedfordshire Regiment. Wounded Falfemont Farm; died of wounds 10-09-16, aged 19. Formerly 0825, Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion. Born Stanground, enlisted Old Fletton. Son of Isaac and Ruth Hughes, 59, High Street, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Brother of Albert William Hughes who also fell. Buried in St. Sever Cemetery, Rouen, Grave B.25.26.

Sydney

L/Corporal, 10171, 2^nd Northamptonshire Regiment. Killed in action 25-03-18, aged 23. Born Old Fletton, enlisted Peterborough, Son of Mrs. Emma Ann Ibbott, 136, Percival Street, Peterborough. La Capelle-en-Thierache Communal Cemetery Extension, Aisne.

Wilfred Edward

Corporal, G/10151, 10^th The Queen’s, Royal West Surrey Regiment. Died of wounds 01-08-16, aged 25. Formerly 22747, Northamptonshire Regiment. Born Cambridge, enlisted Rugeley. Son of Smith F. Ingle and Kate Ingle, 29, Orchard Street, Peterborough. Buried in Calais Southern Cemetery, Grave E.3.14.

Harry

Private, 17627, 6^th Royal West Kent Regiment. Died of wounds 22-10-17. Formerly G/12026, The Queen’s, Royal West Surrey Regiment. Born Melton Mowbray, enlisted Peterborough, resident 7, St. Margaret's Road, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Buried in Duisans British Cemetery, Etrun, Grave V.C.33.

John Ernest

Private, 43135, 6^th Northamptonshire Regiment. Killed in action Desire Trench 27-10-16. Formerly 26717, Bedfordshire Regiment. Born Farcet, enlisted Peterborough, resident 7, St. Margaret's Road, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Buried in Regina Trench Cemetery, Grave III.B.24.

Walter

Able Seaman, R/3150, RNVR, ‘Nelson’ Battalion, 63^rd Royal Naval Division. Killed in action 19-01-18, aged 20. Enlisted 19-10-14 in Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion. Joined ‘Nelson’ Battalion 28-08-17. Son of Arthur and Fannie Lane, 8, Orchard Street, Woodston, Peterborough. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Panel 01A.

Arthur

Gunner, 895185, Royal Field Artillery. Died as prisoner of war at Langensalza, Germany, 16-10-18. Born Old Fletton, enlisted Peterborough, resident 52, Queens Road, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Buried in Niederzwehren Cemetery, Germany, Grave VI.E.11.

Percy William

Private, G/7846, 9^th Royal Sussex Regiment. Killed in action 20-06-17, aged 23. Enlisted Peterborough. Son of William and Martha Lincoln, 30, London Road, Peterborough. Commemorated on Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Panel 20.

Herbert,

Private, 307680, 1/8^th Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Killed in action 27-08-16. Formerly 780, Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion. Enlisted Peterborough, resident 46, London Road, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Thiepval Memorial, Panels 9a/9b/10b.

Leonard Ralph

Private, 32771, 8^th Bn. Machine Gun Corps. Killed in action 25-04-17. Formerly 0727, Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion. Born Eye Green, enlisted Huntingdon, resident 45, Queens Road, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Commemorated on Arras Memorial, Bay 10.

James Foxhall

Private, 562, Army Cyclist Corps. Died of wounds 11-04-18. Formerly 0478, Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion. Born Old Fletton, enlisted Huntingdon, resident 22, St. Margaret's Road, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Buried in La Kreule Military Cemetery, Grave I.C.13.

Sidney

L/Corporal, 18164, 1^st Northamptonshire Regiment. 1914-15 Star. Killed in action 21-04-16. Born Stanground, enlisted Peterborough, resident 57, High Street, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Buried in Maroc British Cemetery, Grave I.A.06.

Edwin

Private, 328177, 1/1^st Cambridgeshire Regiment. Killed in action near Sameon 25-10-18, aged 21. Born King’s Lynn, enlisted East Dereham. Son of Edwin and Mary Marriott, 75, Tower Street, New Fletton, Peterborough. Buried in Sameon Churchyard, France. See also King's Lynn King Edward VII Grammar School

Percy Wilfred

Private, 30172, 1/14^th Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Killed in action Falfemont Farm 03-09-16, aged 18. Formerly 0834, Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion. Born and enlisted Old Fletton, Peterborough. Son of John and Anna Elizabeth Mendham, 21, Princes Road, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Panels 09A/09B/10B. Brother of Private George Henry Mendham, 8067, 1st Bn, Bedfordshire Regiment (wounded and issued a SWB). He went to France 16-8-1914 and received the 14 Star (B) Trio. On 19-10-1945 awarded an Imperial Service Medal LG (5128). He was a skilled workman Class 1 Peterborough Telephone area.

Sidney Harold

Private, M2/048648, Royal Army Service Corps attached ‘Y’ Corps Signal Co. Royal Engineers. Died of sickness 09-11-18, aged 27. Born Felixstowe, enlisted Peterborough. Son of Frederick and Susan Minns; husband of Mrs. L. Minns, 49, Queen's Road, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Buried in Etaples Military Cemetery, Grave XLIX.E.14.

Horace

Private, 12851, 1^st Northamptonshire Regiment. Killed in action 23-07-16, aged 21. Born and enlisted Peterborough, resident 26, Duke Street, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Son of Mrs E. Moulds, 186, Belsize Avenue, Woodston, Peterborough. Buried in Thiepval Anglo-French Cemetery, Grave I.J.01.

John William

Private, M/321314, Royal Army Service Corps. Died of illness at Woolwich 04-11-18. Born and enlisted Peterborough, resident 26, Duke Street, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Son of Mrs E. Moulds, 186, Belsize Avenue, Woodston, Peterborough. Buried in Peterborough (Broadway) Cemetery, Grave 7.3.2374.

Horace

Corporal, 295251, 2/4^th London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers). Killed in action near St. Julien 21-09-17, aged 25. Formerly 36, 5^th Bedfordshire Regiment. Born Peterborough, enlisted Old Fletton, resident 147, Fletton Avenue, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Commemorated on Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Panel 52. See also Filey War Memorial.

Additional information by Derek Smith

The Battle of Passchendaele was still in abeyance when Corporal Horace Nicholls was killed on 21st September 1917. Preparations were in place for The Battle of the Menin Road, the third part of the main battle, which was due to start on the 25th September. One of those preparations was to establish a start line for the attack. A start line is a position in front of the enemy, giving the attacker the best possible chance of advancing to an objective.

To do this Horace and his battalion, the 2/4th London Regiment left camp on the 18th of September to establish a position to assault enemy defensive pillboxes around the Winnipeg Crossroads, just outside of St Julian. They had been practicing the attack since the 8th September.

Their assault went in at 5.40am on the 20th September. Within 30 minutes all objectives had been taken. The 2/4th pushed through the captured positions, established a defensive line and dug in. Throughout the rest of the 20th, the 2/4th beat off many counter attacks mainly by using keenly directed artillery fire. However counter fire was intense, the battalion history recording ‘shellfire severe, less than one hundred rifles remaining ‘

On the 21st the history recorded that all ‘the new trenches dug were obliterated and many more casualties occurred’. The battalion was relieved that evening, it had suffered 60 killed, 176 wounded and 29 missing. Horace was one of the missing, his body was never found.

His parents appealed for news of Horace in the local paper: ‘Mrs. Nicholls and family, 147, Fletton Avenue, would gratefully receive any information from any of his comrades regarding him on that date’. They heard nothing until on the 27th July 1918, the family was officially informed that Horace, notified as missing, was now confirmed as killed.

Horace was 26 when he died. Before the War, he had worked as a Legal Clerk for Buckle and Co based in Priestgate. He was also a Territorial Force soldier, serving with the Hunts Cyclists. Immediately on the outbreak of war he volunteered for overseas service, but first the Hunts Cyclists were sent on coastal defence duties around Filey, North Yorkshire.

Duties couldn’t have been too arduous, as Horace found love. On the 29 Apr 1915 at St. Paul's, Buttershaw, Horace married Florence Emily. They set up a home in Filey, she was to become his widow just two years later, receiving his £15 gratuity and £17 savings, £11 of which were for the benefit of their child.

Horace was well known locally as a comedian. He also performed as part of a local concert party, the ‘Dandy Pips’. Sadly history leaves no surviving performances.

He had two brothers, both served. His elder brother Albert served in France at the outbreak of the war and was discharged after suffering from Trench Fever an extremely unpleasant disease caused by the faeces of body lice . He then re-joined for home service with the Royal Garrison Artillery, Younger brother Percy, lost his leg on the Somme in August 1916 whilst serving with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. All three brothers had served with the Hunts Cyclists.

Horace was remembered by his family on the memorial, pictured, in Fletton Cemetery. His is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing, the Filey War Memorial, and in our Church, St Margaret’s.

Fred

Private, 18914, 7^th Northamptonshire Regiment. Killed in action Loos 25-09-15, aged 18. Born Woodston, enlisted Peterborough. Son of John and Annie Noon, 15, Princes Road, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Commemorated on Loos Memorial, Panels 91/93.

Percy

Private (Trench Mortar Battery), 44511, 22^nd Manchester Regiment. Died of wounds 14-10-17, aged 21. Formerly 26099, Bedfordshire Regiment. Born and enlisted Peterborough. Son of James and Sarah Anne North, 75, High Street, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Poperinghe, Grave XXI.F.19.

Joseph

Corporal, 7193, 1^st Northamptonshire Regiment. 1914-15 Star. Killed in action Aubers Ridge 09-05-15, aged 28. Born Canwick, Lincs, enlisted Northampton, resident 29, Duke Street, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Son of Robert and Edith Oxby, Dower House, Canwick, Lincs. Commemorated on Le Touret Memorial, Panels 28/30.

Robert

Corporal, 14462, 1^st Lincolnshire Regiment. 1914-15 Star. Killed in action 03-07-16. Born Heighington, Lincs, enlisted Peterborough, resident 29, Duke Street, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Son of Robert and Edith Oxby, Dower House, Canwick, Lincs; husband of Agnes Daisy Ibbott (formerly Oxby), Manor Farm, High Street, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Panel 1c.

Danhoe

Sapper, 63630, 101^st Field Co. Royal Engineers. Killed in action 11-06-17, aged 30. Born Old Fletton, enlisted Peterborough. Son of George and Mary Palmer, Grove Street, Old Fletton; husband of Ethel May Palmer, 831, Lincoln Road, Peterborough. Killed within 3 days of 31^st Birthday. Buried in Hop Store Cemetery, Vlamertinghe, Grave I.B.39.

Fred

Private, G/14466, 8^th The Queen’s, Royal West Surrey Regiment. Killed in action Kleine Zillebeke 01-08-17, aged 38. Born Ramsey, enlisted Peterborough, resident 185, Fletton Avenue, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Son of George Papworth; husband of Louisa Emily Glenn (formerly Papworth), 215, Fletton Avenue, Peterborough. Commemorated on Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Panels 11/14.

Ernest Charles

Private, 33343, 1^st East Yorkshire Regiment. Killed in action 09-04-17, aged 28. Formerly 25139, Manchester Regiment. Born Huntingdon, enlisted Oldham. Son of John William Parkinson, 1, Silver Street, London Road, Peterborough. Buried in Heninel-Croisilles Road Cemetery, Grave I.B.25.

George

Corporal, 14906, 7^th Northamptonshire Regiment. Killed in action 10-02-16, aged 22. Born Yaxley, enlisted Peterborough. Son of John and Eliza Parrott, 42, Tower Street, Fletton, Peterborough. Commemorated on Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Panels 43/45.

James

Private, 22894, 2^nd Lincolnshire Regiment. Killed in action 27-05-18. Enlisted Brigg, Lincs. Son of John and Eliza Parrott, 42, Tower Street, Fletton, Peterborough. Commemorated on Soissons Memorial, France.

Donald

Private, 43436, 1^st Bedfordshire Regiment. Died of wounds 09-09-16, aged 19. Formerly 0819, Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion. Born Peterborough, enlisted Huntingdon. Son of Donald and Rose Paul, 2, G.E. Railway Cottages, London Road, Peterborough. Buried in St. Pierre Cemetery, Amiens, Grave III.B.03.

Ernest

Private, 235265, 8^th Lincolnshire Regiment attached 63^rd Bn. Machine Gun Corps. Killed in action 07-03-18, aged 34. Born and enlisted Peterborough, resident 29, Fellowes Road, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Buried in Huts Cemetery, Dickebusch, Grave XV.B.12.

Edmund

Saddler, TS/5445, 20^th Reserve Park, Army Service Corps. Accidentally killed 15-12-16, aged 37. Born Old Fletton, enlisted Peterborough, resident 20, Queens Road, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Son of the late John and Jane Plumb. Buried in Albert Communal Cemetery Extension, Grave I.R.42.

Ernest Fred

Private, 30959, 6^th Northamptonshire Regiment. Killed in action 06-06-17. Born Doncaster, enlisted Peterborough. Husband of Mabel Kate Pratt, 35, Silver Street, London Road, Peterborough. Buried in Rookery British Cemetery, Heninel, Grave C.09.

Bertie

Private, 29761, 7^th Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action 15-11-16. Born and enlisted Peterborough, resident 50, Queens Road, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Thiepval Memorial, Panel 02C.

Leonard

Private, 41238, 10^th Lincolnshire Regiment. Died of wounds 28-08-17. Formerly 27282, Northamptonshire Regiment. Born Stanground, enlisted Northampton, resident 62, Orchard Street, New Fletton, Peterborough. Tincourt New British Cemetery, Grave I.E.22.

Albert Sidney

Private, 17723, 7^th Northamptonshire Regiment. Killed in action near Nesle 25-03-18, aged 25. Born Churwell, Yorks, enlisted Peterborough. Son of Walter and Ethel Rimes, 32, Bread Street, Peterborough. Commemorated on Pozieres Memorial, Panels 54/56.

Martin Mansfield

L/Corporal, 13175, 6^th Northamptonshire Regiment. Killed in action Fricourt 28-09-15. Born Farcet, enlisted Peterborough, resident 16, Victoria Place, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Buried in Point 110 Military Cemetery, Fricourt, Grave F.03.

Horace

L/Sergeant, 3426, 1/2^nd London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers). Killed in action 15-09-16. Born Peterborough, enlisted London, resident 12, Silver Street, Woodston, Peterborough. No Trace CWGC.

Fred James Lewis

Private, G/29633, 1^st Middlesex Regiment. Killed in action 23-04-17, aged 34. Born Cambridge, enlisted Peterborough. Husband of Emily E. Roope, 9, Park Street, London Road, Peterborough. Buried in Heninel-Croisilles Road Cemetery, Grave I.C.19.

Ernest Charles

Private, 20646, 7^th Northamptonshire Regiment. Killed in action Guillemont 18-08-16, aged 21. Born Peterborough, enlisted Oundle. Son of Thomas and Alice Rowe, 27, Orchard Street, Fletton, Peterborough. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Panels 11a/11d.

Furbank

Private, 6585, 1^st Northamptonshire Regiment. 1914 Star. Killed in action 10-11-14, aged 33. Born Shelford, Cambs, enlisted Peterborough, resident 50, Orchard Street, Peterborough. Son of the late Furbank and Elizabeth Sarah Savidge. Commemorated on Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Panels 43/45.

George Spencer

Gunner, 4679, 24^th East Anglian Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Died of pneumonia at Red Cross Hospital, Thetford, 20-04-16, aged 24. Born and enlisted Peterborough. Son of George and Sophia Secker, 55, Orchard Street, Woodston, Peterborough. Buried in Peterborough (Broadway) Cemetery, Grave 8.3.3674.

Walter

Private, 30229, 1/14^th Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Killed in action Falfemont Farm 03-09-16. Formerly 1571, Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion. Born Eastrea, enlisted Huntingdon. Son of the late James Simpson, 5, King's Road, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Panels 9a/9b/10d.

Zaccheus

Private, 269795, 1/6^th Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derby Regiment). Killed in action 03-10-18, aged 35. Born Glass Moor Fen, enlisted Huntingdon. Son of the late James Simpson, 5, King's Road, Old Fletton, Peterborough; husband of May Winifred Simpson, 61A. Salford Road, Streatham Hill, London. Buried in Bellicourt British Cemetery, Grave V.P.08.

Robert William

Private, 267486, 5^th Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire LI. Killed in action 27-09-17, aged 22. Formerly 0482, Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion. Born Chippenham, Cambs, enlisted Old Fletton. Husband of Hilda Smedley, 266, Lincoln Road, Peterborough. Buried in Westhof Farm Cemetery, Grave II.E.06.

Frederick Thomas

Driver, 170901, 48^th Divisional Ammunition Co. Royal Field Artillery. Died of wounds 10-11-18. Born and enlisted Peterborough. Son of Frederick Smith, 51, Silver Street, Peterborough. Small Memorial in Old Fletton Cemetery. Buried in Cavalletto British Cemetery, Italy, Grave I.E.09.

Joseph Henry

Private, 30236, 1/14^th Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Killed in action Falfemont Farm 03-09-16. Formerly 0810, Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion. Born Peterborough, enlisted Old Fletton. Resident 10, Bread Street, Peterborough. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Panels 09A/09B/10B.

Leslie John Cecil

Lewis

Private, 31060, 1^st Queen’s Own, Royal West Kent Regiment. Killed in action 18-09-18. Born Woodston, enlisted Peterborough, resident 53, Silver Street, Peterborough. Buried in Gouzeaucourt New British Cemetery, Grave V.D.06. See also Liverpool Street Station, London

Arthur

Private, 99099, 272^nd Machine Gun Corps. Died of sickness 15-02-18. Formerly 37562, Bedfordshire Regiment. Enlisted Bedford, resident 187, Fletton Avenue, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Buried in Ismailia War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt, Grave A.130.

William

Private, 24798, 1/1^st Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Killed in action 03-07-17, aged 23. Formerly 1669, Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion. Born Old Fletton, enlisted Huntingdon. Son of Robert and Harriett Steels, 53, High Street, Old Fletton. Buried in Crump Trench British Cemetery, Fampoux, Grave II.B.26.

Thomas Edward

Private, 30289, 1/14^th Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Killed in action (shot by sniper carrying a wounded comrade) 26-10-17. Formerly 1631, Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion. Born Old Fletton, enlisted Huntingdon, resident 66, Queens Road, Old Fletton. Commemorated on Tyne Cot Memorial, Panels 23/28.

Thomas Cecil

Private, 20725, 1/1^st Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire LI. Killed in action 23-08-16, aged 17. Born and enlisted Old Fletton, Son of Mrs. Sarah Taylor, 49, Silver Street, Woodston, Peterborough. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Panels 10A/10D.

George Samuel

Private, 39439, 1^st Royal Berkshire Regiment. Died of wounds 04-09-17, aged 26. Formerly 1572, Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion. Born Haddenham, enlisted Huntingdon. Son of Samuel and Elizabeth Thaxter, 2, Victoria Place, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Buried in Peterborough (Old Fletton) Cemetery, Grave West Side.219.

Jack Arthur

Gunner, 104464, 118^th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Died of wounds 05-06-17. Born Keyston, enlisted Oakham. Husband of Mrs. E. Throssell, 46, High Street, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Buried in Pont-D’Achelles Military Cemetery, Nieppe, Grave I.B.18.

Percy Arthur

Private, 139717, 61^st Bn. Machine Gun Corps. Captured on 22-03-18; died of wounds whilst prisoner of war 08-08-18, aged 24. Formerly 1314, Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion. Born Old Fletton, enlisted Filey, resident 92, High Street, Old Fletton. Son of John and Eliza Ann Thurley, ‘Rosie Kot’, Fletton Avenue, Old Fletton. Buried in Niederzwehren Cemetery, Germany, Grave II.K.02.

Herbert Harry

Private, 43077, 1^st Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action Falfemont Farm 04-09-16, aged 38. Formerly 1259, Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion. He enlisted 20 months previously, he left a widow and five young children. Resident at 5, St. Margaret’s Place, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Panel 2c.

Herbert

Corporal, M2/193800, Royal Army Service Corps (Motor Transport) attached 67^th Brigade, Royal Garrison Artillery. Died of pneumonia 18-12-18, aged 33. Husband of Mrs. M. M. Unwin, 57, Queens Walk, Peterborough. Buried in Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension No.2, Grave I.E.15.

John (Jack) William

Private, 9440, 1^st Northamptonshire Regiment. Killed in action Aubers Ridge 09-05-15. Born Downham, enlisted Peterborough, resident 39, Duke Street, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Commemorated on Le Touret Memorial, Panels 28/30.

Percy Fred

Private, 14878, 7^th Northamptonshire Regiment. 1914 Star. Killed in action St. Eloi 15-10-15, aged 20. Born Woodston, enlisted Peterborough. Son of Frederick Watts, 6, South View, London Road, Peterborough. Commemorated on Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Panels 43/45.

Reginald Bernard

Private 56665, 17th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers. Killed in action 31 October 1918. Born Stanground, Northants. Resident Filey, Yorks. Joined Great Eastern Railway November 1916, Engine Cleaner, Peterborough. Enlisted 1917 in Peterborough, Northants. Buried in VICHTE MILITARY CEMETERY, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot III. Row A. Grave 7. See also Liverpool Street Station, London and also Filey, Yorkshire

Additional information by Derek Smith

Reginald was born in the third quarter of 1898 to Bertha and John West. Bertha and John married on 11 July 1898 so again, we may be witnessing a rush to the Altar Rail. In the 1901 census Reginald is registered as the grandson of Thomas and Ellen Shepherd. His mother, Bertha, is elusive in the 1901 census, John died in late 1900. Bertha remarried James Thoroughgood Bird on 11 August 1902. They had their own child together, Dick, born 16th May 1911. In 1911, Reginald appears as the stepson of James and the son of his mother. James was a brick yard worker, Reginald was still at school with the family living at 34 Duke Street, Old Fletton. Subsequently the family moved to 181, High Street next door to Bertha's parents who lived at 183.

Reginald’s father James enlisted on the 12 December 1915, being posted to the 13th Battalion Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, a home service Battalion based in Blackpool, on 28th August 1916. His service was entirely in the UK until his discharge, because of a pre-existing back disorder, on 17th December 1817. He was granted a gratuity of £35, but his appeal for a permanent pension was rejected. The appeal would have been on the basis that if he was accepted for service with a pre-existing condition, and discharged for the same condition, his service must have worsened it, despite his discharge medical stating it hadn’t. He probably had a good case, but a brickyard worker had no recourse to a lawyer. In 1939 Dick and James, father and son, lived together in The Bungalow, Stilwell, London Road. Dick was single and a bricklayers labourer and James appears never to have re married and is still recorded as incapacitated.

Reginald’s military career began on 27th May 1914 when he joined the Hunts Cyclists aged 15 years and 7 months. He remained in the Cyclists, on home defence duty, for two years, during which time he had an operation for a dental issue. He was also confined to barracks for 7 days starting on 18th January 1915 for refusing the orders of a Corporal Elliot.

Reginald’s time with the cyclists finished on the 3rd April 1916 when he was discharged for being a single man and not having signed the Imperial Service Order rendering him liable for service overseas. This discharge seems a little harsh given that Reginald was only 17, too young for conscription and 19 months away from being sent overseas.

From his death gratuity of £7.10 we know that Reginald was conscripted in February 1917 but not before having married Betsy Killingbeck of Filey in the October 1916. Reginald was the second man from Fletton to marry a girl from Filey, the other being Harry Bright.

We do not have Reginald’s records for the second part of his military career, but he is unlikely to have been sent to France prior to December 1917 because of his age. Indeed, given the losses at Passchendaele, the British Government had been refusing to send replacements to France, insisting that the Army had enough men. After the losses caused by Operation Michael, the Government relented and released the drafts. It is possible that Reginald entered France in April 1918.

Reginald was the last man from Fletton to die under fire in the Great War. The British, having broken the Hindenburg line, were now pushing the German Army back on all fronts, With the Germans in retreat, Reginald’s Battalion, the 17th Lancashire Fusiliers, was tasked with taking Vossenhoek in Belgium. This was a Brigade operation with Reginald and the Fusiliers in the centre. The attack started through a smokescreen created by the artillery, then pressed on through ‘considerable machine gun and artillery fire’. The initial objectives were taken and the attack resumed at 08.49. The ‘enemy used tracer ammunition which gave their positions away’ and the attack again took all its objectives.

Given that there was a wide belief that the war was won, it is amazing to see the tenacity of the attack. The Battalion took 150 prisoners, 30 machine guns, 1 trench mortar, 2 ambulances and ‘casualties to the enemy were extremely heavy’. The Battalion’s casualties were 10 dead, one of whom was Reginald.

Reginald left all his death gratuity and savings to his widow, Betsy. Bertha was spared her son’s death, as she had died, aged 36, on 22 December 1916. Reginald’s body was recovered and he is buried in Vichte Military Cemetery where his grave bears no inscription. He is remembered there, on the Filey War Memorial, the Liverpool Street Memorial and in our Church, St Margaret’s.

William

Private, 3/7779, 2^nd Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action Neuve Chapelle 10-03-15. Previously served in South Africa. Born Farcet, enlisted Huntingdon. Resident 43, Queens Road, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Commemorated on Le Touret Memorial, Panels 10/11.

Joseph

Private, G/23193, Joseph Walton Wright, 6^th The Queen’s, Royal West Surrey Regiment. Killed in action near Cambrai 02-12-17, aged 19. Born and enlisted Peterborough, resident 72, Silver Street, Peterborough. Son of Mr. E. Wright, 5, Silver Street, London Road, Peterborough. Commemorated on Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, Panel 03.

George Frederick

Private, 241930, 2/5^th Lincolnshire Regiment. Killed in action 11-04-17. Born Yaxley, enlisted Huntingdon, resident 49, St. Margaret’s Road, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Panel 1c.

Frank

Private, 267512, 1/1^st Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire LI. Killed in action 19-04-17, aged 19. Born Stanground, enlisted Old Fletton. Son of Fred and Mary Whitney, 5, Princes Road, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Panels 10a/10d.

George Henry

Private, 59580, 122^nd Co. Machine Gun Corps. Killed in action 20-09-17, aged 25. Formerly 11600, The Buffs, East Kent Regiment. Born Old Fletton, enlisted Peterborough. Son of Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Woods, Brewster’s Cottages, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Commemorated on Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, Panels 154/159 and 163A.

Tom

Private, 12410, 2^nd Gloucestershire Regiment. Killed in action 04-05-15, aged 24. Born Westbury, Lincs, enlisted Pentre, Son of Joseph and Elizabeth Ancott, 56, Orchard Street, New Fletton, Peterborough. Commemorated on Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Panels 22 and 34.

Walter Robert

Corporal, 3038, 57^th Co. Machine Gun Corps. Killed in action 18-11-16, aged 20. Formerly 12951, Northamptonshire Regiment. Born Old Fletton, enlisted Peterborough. Son of John Barrick, 139, High Street, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Buried in Grandcourt Road Cemetery, Grandcourt, Grave B.76.  

George Richard

Private, 10467, 6^th Northamptonshire Regiment. Killed in action Cherisy 03-05-17. Born Old Fletton, enlisted Peterborough, resident 7, Princes Road, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Commemorated on Arras Memorial, Bay 07.

Henry Edward

Private, 3665, 1/2^nd Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Died of wounds 16-03-15. Born and enlisted Birmingham. Husband of Mrs A. Busby, 51, St. Margaret’s Road, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, Grave III.D.22.

Martin Henry

Private, 33750, 7^th Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action Crozat Canal 22-03-18. Born Old Fletton, enlisted Bedford, resident 11, Princes Road, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Commemorated on Pozieres Memorial, Panels 28/29.

Walter Henry

Lieutenant, 49^th Bn. Australian Infantry (AIF). Died of pneumonia 25-10-18, aged 35. Born Townsville, Queensland, Australia, enlisted Townsville. Living with his aunt Mrs. Groves, 132, Fletton Avenue, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Died in Peterborough Infirmary. Buried in Old Fletton Cemetery, Peterborough, on 30-10-18. Grave West (NC) 423.

Francis Henry

Private, 307651, 1/8^th Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Killed in action 06-10-17, aged 21. Formerly 0068, Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion. Born Woodston, enlisted and resident Old Fletton. Son of Mr. H. Nickerson and Mrs. E. E. Nickerson, Somerby Villa, 76, Wisbech Road, March, Cambs. Buried in Tyne Cot Cemetery, Zonnebeke, Grave XX.F.17.

Herbert Tweed

Private, 43406, 1^st Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action (Shell in the front line) 08-10-17, aged 37. Formerly 0813, Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion. Born Great Abington, Cambs, enlisted Huntingdon, resident 197, High Street, Old Fletton, Peterborough. Commemorated on Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, Panels 48/50 and 162A.

Charles Cornelius

L/Corporal, 11408, 6^th Lincolnshire Regiment. Died of wounds 22-08-17. Born Ashton, Northants, enlisted Stamford, resident New Fletton, Peterborough. Buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, Grave VIII.I.12.