From Andy Pay's research into the Marquis de Ruvigny' s Roll of Honour Volume 2, part 4, page 4:

Private Herbert Alfred Armes, number 41667, 6th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. Son of the late Herbert William Armes by his wife Rosetta daughter of Charles Norman. Born Hemingford Grey 19 December 1898, educated Board school St Ives. Was a butcher. Enlisted in the Bedfordshire Regiment 19 February 1917, served with the expeditionary force in France and Flanders from 30 January 1918 and was killed in action near Bucquoy on the Somme 8 April 1918. Buried in Rettemay Farm Cemetery, W.N.W. of Bucquoy.

BYATT, P. E., Private, Bedfordshire Regiment. - Volunteering in 1915 he was drafted in the following year to the Western Front. In this theatre of war he was in action at Albert, Vimy Ridge and on the Somme front, and did good work uniil he fell gloriously on the Field of Battle at Arras on April 23rd, 1917. He was entitled to the General Service and Victory Medals. - 'A costly sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.' - North Road, St. lves, Hunts. - Z1555.

Second Lieutenant, 106th Battery, Royal Field Artillery. Died of wounds 7 October 1915. Aged 23. Son of George Dennis Day and Margaret Jade (Meta) Day of "Rheola", St Ives. Buried left of the pathway in St Ives Public Cemetery, Hunts.

From Andy Pay's research into the Marquis de Ruvigny' s Roll of Honour Volume 1, part 2, page 96:

2nd Lieutenant Dennis Ivor DAY, Royal Field Artillery, second son of George Dennis Day of St Ives, Huntingdonshire M.A., L.L.B., solicitor and town clerk, by his wife Meta, daughter of the late Lewis Davis of Bryn-Derwen, Ferndale, Glam, J.P. and colliery proprietor.

Born St Ives 10-2-1892. Educated Sandroyd, co Surrey, Repton co Derby and St Johns College Cambridge.

Joined the Royal Naval Division on the outbreak of war in Aug 1914, but obtained a commission in the R.F.A 1 December 1914, subsequently being attached to the 24th Division, 106th brigade. Went to France spring 1915, returned to England in July. Went back to the front in Augustand died at Boulogne 7 Ocotber 1915 from wounds received in action at Vermelles 27 September 1915 while on observation duty.Buried at St Ives. Whilst at Cambridge he studied Mathematics.

From Huntingdonshire Heroes of the First World War by John Bell ISBN 0 946965 21 8. Letter about Commander Day's last dog fight.

March 1917. Dear I regret to inform you that Commander Day fell in action on February the 27th. last. He was shot down by six German aircraft which he attacked single handed out to sea.He had out distanced his flights, I think because he wished to break the enemy's formation in order to make it easier for the less experienced people behind him to attack. He hit the enemy and they hit his machine which burst into flames but not a bit flurried him and he nose dived, flattened out and landed perfectly on the water. He climbed out of his machine and waved his fellow pilots back to their base; being in aeroplanes (not sea planes) they could not assist him. An immediate and prolonged search was made for him but in vain. With deepest sympathy, H.

Private 7729 11th Battalion, Australian Infantry, A.I.F who died on Sunday, 13th January 1918. Age 29. Son of George and Emma Hewson; husband of Ethel Maud Hewson, of 16, Lichfield Rd., Southtown, Great Yarmouth, England. Native of St. Ives, Hunts. No known grave. Commemorated on the YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 7 - 17 - 23 - 25 - 27 - 29 - 31

Notes by Alan Davis:

Pte. 7729 Charles William Hewson, 11th Bn. Australian Infantry.

Charles, as he preferred to be known, left home in St Ives during the summer of 1913 bound for Australia and soon found work as a farmer in the community of Burracoppin, not far from Perth. In April 1917 he enlisted in the Australian Infantry at Blackboy Hill Camp in Western Australia and this is where he completed his initial training. In June 1917 he disembarked Freemantle aboard H.M.A.T. A30. ‘Borda’ and arrived in Plymouth at the end of August. He undertook further training at Sutton Veny near Warminster and finally disembarked Southampton, arriving in Le Harvre, France, on 30th December 1917. Within days he had joined his unit near Wulverghen, not far from Ypres [Iper] in Belgium. Barely two weeks later, on 13th Jan 1918, the 11th Bn. War Diary recorded the following event.

‘No. 5 post located at 0 35 d 31 blown out by enemy during early morning. Casualties 4 O.R. killed and 5 wounded.’

Sadly, Private Charles William Hewson was one of those ‘Other Ranks’ killed in action on that day and he is No known grave. Commemorated on the Ypres [Menin Gate] in Belgium.

His younger brother, Walter George Hewson, emigrated with him to Australia and worked as a labourer in the same community of Burracoppin in Western Australia. Joining the 16th Bn. Australian Infantry, he saw action in Gallipoli and France, was twice wounded in action and finally reached the rank of Sergeant. He returned to Australia in November 1918 and died in Kwinana, Western Australia on 27 June 1967.

Lieutenant 6th (Cyclist Battalion) Territorial attached to 2nd/5th Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. Killed in action 14 March 1917. Son of William and Emma Ruth High of 21 Princes Rd, Gt Yarmouth. Buried in Adanac Military Cemetery, Miraumont, Somme, France. Plot III. Row E. Grave 3.

The picture is taken from the "Lloyds Bank Ltd - Memorial ALBUM 1914-1918". Gilbert, whose name is recorded on the St Ives, Hunts memorial, is also commemorated on the Lloyds Bank Memorial which is located in Lloyds TSB Bank plc registered address in the city of London. Gilbert High worked at Lloyds Bank in St Ives, Hunts.

From Huntingdonshire Heroes of the First World War by John Bell ISBN 0 946965 21 8. Letter to Miss Knights about William.

B.E.F. France, May 21st 1917 Dear Miss Knights, Your letter of the 17th duly reached me today and believe me I cannot tell you how sincerely sorry I was to hear that Sergeant Knights had died. Perhaps you would like to know that he had earned a reputation for bravery and coolness amongst a little band of N.C.O's and men in the Naval Division trench mortars. I was not commanding the Battery when he was hit but I heard about it from the Battery Commander who was hit the same day. There was to be an attack that morning near Arras and the Germans had a strong post near our lines. This battery was therefore given the task of knocking out the post. After they had done all they could Sergeant Knights was hit. The position was very exposed and as there was no proper communication in the trench (that ground had recently been taken), Sergeant Knights was bandaged and remained in the front trench until nightfall. He was then carried back to the dressing station where we were told he might probably lose his arm. That is all I know except that one of his friends got a letter from him before he left Prance saying he expected to go to England any day. He must have died very suddenly. All his personal effects were sent to the Officer in charge of Records as soon as I heard he expected to be going to England. This officer will forward them to you. We officers realise what a great privilege it is to command such fine men as Sergeant Knights and join with you and his messmates in deeply mourning his loss. Very sincerely, Cyril A Lynch O.C.M.T.M.B.

From Andy Pay's research into the Marquis de Ruvigny's Roll of Honour Volume 2, Part 4, Page 178:

SAYER, Edwin - Private, No 10815, 1st Battalion (9th Foot), The Norfolk Regiment

Son of the late Charles Sayer, by his wife, Martha, dau. of the late John Frost; Born Shropham, co. Norfolk, 22nd June, 1888; educated St.Ives, co.Huntingdon; was a Fowl Dealer; enlisted 26th Oct,1914; served with The Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from May, 1915; proceeded to Italy 7th Dec, 1917; returned to France the following April and was killed in action at Aire 18th April, 1918. Buried at Taunay, east of Aire. His platoon officer wrote: "Your husband was one of the most popular and best liked men in my platoon, being always so cheery and willing." He married at St. Ives, co. Huntingdon 11th Nov, 1911, Elizabet (3 Peeks Yard, St. Ives), dau. of William Roden and had two daus, : Doreen Louisa, born 21st Nov, 1912, and Alice Gertrude, born 26th Aug, 1914.

STEVENS, R. V., Private, 1st Bedfordshire Regt. - After volunteering in September 1915, he underwent a period of training, and later proceeded to the Western Front, where he took an active part in the Battles of the Somme, Arras and Ypres, and in heavy fighting at Loos. He died gloriously on the Field of Battle on October 11th, 1917, and was entitled to the General Service and Victory Medals. - 'A valiant Soldier, with undaunted heart he breasted life’s last bill' - The Quay, St. Ives, Hunts. - Z4291/A.

Mr. and Mrs. G. F.. Allan, St. Audrey’s Needingworth, St. Ives, received notification on Thursday that their elder son Flying-Officer Gilbert Fairley Allan. R.A.F.V.R. was repotted missing believed to have lost his life as the result of air operations in Italy in December.

Aged 20, this popular young St Ivian was educated at Kimbolton School. He volunteered for the R.A.F. at 17½ and was on the staff of Barclay’s Bank, St. Neots, at the time of being accepted for air crew training. He belonged to .St. Neots A.T.C. Flight.

F./O. Allan gamed his wings in Rhodesia and instead of coming home, as is customary, was sent to India, and later to Egypt, for a special Fighter-Pilot course, coming through with great success. He had been on operations in Italy for about five months.

AIRMAN MISSING.—Mr. and Mrs. B. Dodson, of Oxford-rd., have learnt that their elder son, Sgt. /Navigator Ronald Dodson, R.A.F., is reported missing after operations over enemy territory. Aged 21, he was married three months ago to Miss Phyllis Brown, formerly in the Women's Land Army at St. Ives but now residing with her mother at Brockley, London. He was the first boy to join the St. Ives A.T.C. and the Squadron's first F/Sgt. He entered the R.A.F. for air crew training as soon as his age permitted and qualified in Rhodesia as a navigator. Ronald was popular, keen on all sports and made friends everywhere. He was educated at Huntingdon Grammar School. Reassuring news is anxiously awaited.

St. Ives' first, fatal casualty in the Normandy Campaign is L./Cpl George Eastgate, R.A.C., younger son of Mr. and Mrs G. Eastgate, 6. West-st., who received the sad news Iast week end.

Aged 28. Geogre was a member of a famous Tank Regt. He had had over four years in the Services, taking part in the North African campaign and in the memorable battle of El Alamein. He was the holder of the Africa Star.

It was only last December that he returned to England, at Christmas he was married to Miss E. Rolfe, of Watford. St. Ives will remember him as a very popular young man. He was educated at the Grammar School, was a keen sportsman, and a member of the parish Church Choir.

Apprenticed to the grocery trade with Messrs. Sainsbury's, Cambridge. L/Cpl. Eastgate was working in. London at the time of joining up. Much sympathy is felt with his wife and parents in their grievous loss.

One of the saddest pieces of news which St. Ives has had during this war came on Thursday, when Mrs. F. Elsden. Little Farthing-close, received a telegram to say that her elder son, Guardsman Sidney Elsden, Irish Guards, aged 18½, had passed away that day in Westminster Hospital.

He had been taking part in military exercises and was accidentally shot through the head. He was rushed to hospital, but died shortly after his mother was notified of the accident. Mrs. Elsden was ill in bed herself when the tragic news arrived.

Sidney was a boy who joined in any youthful fun. He had .been in the A.T.C. for three years before being called for the Army and although disappointed when not accepted for the Fleet Air Arm he became very proud at being posted to the Irish Guards last July.

He had been a server at the Parish Church, and one of the keenest of the All Saints' Gym, and Youth P.T. Classes. He was employed at Messrs. Enderby's.

The sympathy of the whole town goes out to Mrs. Elsden and her younger son in their sorrow.

At the inquest at Westminster on Tuesday, evidence was given that Guardsman Elsden was shot in the head, during a street fighting exercise, by a bullet from a rifle fired by a staff sergeant acting as a sniper. There was no explanation as to how a live round came to get into the sergeant's rifle and the coroner, recording a verdict of death by misadventure, said it would be a matter for the military authorities to inquire into.

Fusilier 5837364 1st Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regt.) who died on Friday, 12th May 1944. Age 21. Son of William H. Favell, and of Margaret Favell, of St. Ives, Huntingdonshire. His brother Pte. William Arthur Favell died in the United Kingdom. No known grave. Commemorated on the CASSINO MEMORIAL, Italy. Panel 5. Mentioned on family grave in churchyard.

For more details see newspaper cutting.

Private 5880518 5th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment who died on Wednesday, 25th November 1942. Age 34. Son of John and Maria Favell, of St. Ives, Huntingdonshire. Buried in MEDJEZ-EL-BAB WAR CEMETERY, Tunisia. Plot 18. Row A. Grave 15.

For more details see newspaper cutting.

Private 5827940 5th Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment who died on Sunday, 8th October 1944. Age 26. Son of William Henry and Margaret Favell, of St. Ives. His brother Ronald Percy John also died on service. Buried in ST. IVES CHURCH CEMETERY, Huntingdonshire

For more details see newspaper cutting.

Col. W. E. Green, D.F.C., T.D., the Commanding Officer of the Hunts. Territorial Battalion, who, we regret to learn, is reported to have died from wounds received in Flanders. Col. Greer was known to everyone as a great soldier and a very gallant gentleman.

KNOWN TO ALL AS “WEEDY.”

Lt.-Col. Green was the very best type of English officer and gentleman, and it is no exaggeration to say that he was idolised by every man in his battalion.

He was the sort of man who is known by his nickname to everybody; the whole county knew him, and addressed him, as “Weedy,” and his kindness and courtesy were a byword.

A brilliant soldier, a daring leader and a Territorial commander of quite exceptional ability, Col. Green had long foreseen the coming of the present war. Many times he prophesied that the “showdown” would come in 1940, and he used to add that when it did, “my battalion will be among the first out there.”

How tragically true that forecast was to prove to be is now only too well-known.

The younger son of the late Mr, H. D. Green, of Leeds, and of the late Mrs. F. Hull-Ryde, Col. Green was also a nephew of the late Mrs. Arthur Smith, of Buckden. Forty-one years of age, he was educated at Huntingdon Grammar School, and, on leaving school at the age of 17, he joined the Inns of Court O.T.C. Later he gained a commission in the Royal Flying Corps, and served with great distinction during the last war.

He was awarded the D.F.C. for shooting down a large number of enemy planes, and was one of the earliest holders of this notable decoration.

A DENTAL SURGEON.

On being demobilised in 1919, he became a pupil with Mr. T. P. Brown, of Huntingdon, the well-known dental surgeon. He received his professional education at Birmingham University and Dental Hospital, and on qualifying in 1924, returned to Huntingdon and entered into partnership with Mr. Brown in 1926. He had remained with Mr. Brown ever since, and practised at St. Ives.

Col. Green was a member of the Representative Board of the British Dental Association, and for some years was honorary dental surgeon to Huntingdon County Hospital.

Col. Green joined the Hunts. Territorial Battalion on its formation in 1920, and had recently received the T.D. decoration on completing, 20 years with the Territorial Army. On being promoted from captain to major he was second-in-command to Col. A. H. Mellows, and when the latter retired in 1934 he was promoted Lieut.-Col. and assumed command of the battalion.

He was loved by every man who served under him, and he possessed to a singular degree the capacity to draw the best out of his men. During the three weeks of terrific fighting in Belgium which culminated in his being fatally wounded, he inspired the battalion to deeds of great heroism by his own personal example, and the safe homecoming of so many officers and men was marred by the tragedy of his death and also that of Capt. Johnson.

BOOK ON TERRITORIALS

A noted student of military affairs and a clever tactician, Col. Green published only last year, a book called “The Territorials in the Next War,” which was in the series edited by Capt. Liddell Hart, entitled “The Next War.” In this book Col. Green claimed that the Territorial Army was unique among the armed forces of the world, and he added: “The Territorial Army is a body of enthusiasts of natural soldiers . . . It is an outlet for the martial energies of the nation, an instrument for training the men who are to be leaders in any future emergency, and the basis on which the national effort can be built up if the need arises.”

The volume was very well received and the wisdom of many of Col. Green’s suggestions and ideas has been proved up to the hilt by the subsequent development of events.

Col. Green married in September, 1929, at Wimbledon, Miss Cicely Berry, the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Francis Berry, of Wimbledon Hill, S.W. He and his wife lived for some time at Hartford before moving to “Parkside,” St. Ives.

The heartfelt sympathy of the whole county, and of ail connected with her husband’s battalion has been extended: to Mrs. Green in her tragic loss. Two young sons, Michael and Christopher, are also bereaved.

Private 5831794 Royal Artillery Army Catering Corps who died on Friday, 23rd February 1945. Age 31. Son of Harry and Maud Hewitt, of St. Ives. Buried in St. Ives Public Cemetery, Huntingdonshire. Grave 4.

Extract from Hunts Post in 1945:

GAVE HIS LIFE. Pte. Arthur H. Hewitt, St. Ives, who, as reported last week, died in hospital at Glasgow on Feb. 23rd from a tropical disease contracted whilst serving in Burma. A He had been in the Army five years, and was previously a conductor for the Eastern National Bus Co.

Mr. and Mrs. E. G. Howes, 52, Little Farthing Close, St. Ives, received notification last week that their second son, Pte. Horace Harold William ("Bill") Howes, Northants. Regt., must now be presumed killed in action.

Twenty-three years old, "Bill" was reported missing in North Africa on Nov. 17th, 1942, and all efforts to trace his whereabouts have been unsuccessful.

The Records Office state that Pte. Howes, who was dispatch rider, was believed by his Commanding Officer to have been killed by an enemy patrol whilst in the execution of his duties

Capt. John Hele Johnson. the only son of Ald. and Mrs. J. Johnson, of St. Ives, who is reported to have been among the casualties sustained in Flanders.

ADMIRED BY ALL

Capt. Johnson was the only son of Ald. J. and Mrs. Johnson, of Westwood St. and a brother of Mrs. Bryant and Mrs. Dains, both of St. Ives. He was 27 years of age. He was a lieutenant with the Hunts. Territorials for several years prior to the war and on the outbreak of hostilities he was gazetted captain. He was one of the most popular officers in the regiment and was great admired by all ranks.

Educated at Bishops Stortford College, he entered the Prep. and left eight years later as Head Prefect and Head of the School. He proceeded to Magdalen Colle, Oxford, where he graduated and subsequenty took his M.A. degree. While at Oxford he distinguished himself as a golfer, playing in the Universities' match of 1934. He also served in the Varsity O.T.C.

OFFERED A PARTNERSHIP.

Having decided to adopt the profession of a solicitor. Capt. Johnson served his articles with Messrs. Day and Son, the well-known St. Ives firm, and after qualifying was invited by that firm to remain in association with them. This association continued until the outbreak of war. He had been offered a partnership in the firm after the war.

Mr. G. L. Day told our representative: “He was very popular with the staff here and both my father and myself were very pleased with him. He was completely reliable and very capable and conscientious. He was greatly liked by everyone with whom he came into contact.”

Capt. Johnson took an active interest in all the organisations and clubs in St. Ives. He was a former captain of the Golf Club and of the cricket club and he was a very keen fisherman, being on the committee of the St. Ives Association and representing the district on the Ouse and Cam Fishery Board.

Like his parents he was a member of the Congregational Church and he was secretary of the local branch of the British and Foreign Bible Society.

ST. IVIAN MISSING. — Sgt. Dennis Kirby, 21-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. F. Kirby, Bridge St., St. Ives, who is reported missing after recent air operations over Germany.

The campaign against the Japanese in Burma has cost the life of another young St. Ivian – Pte. George J. A. Lantaff, aged 33, of a well-known county regiment.

His wife formerly Miss Mabel Tabbitt, who lives with their two little girls, aged 4½ and 1½, at Church-st., Needingworth, received news last week that he had been killed in action in January. Pte. Lantaff’s mother, who resides at SS. Little Farthing Close, St. Ives, lost her elder son in the last war.

Pte. Lantaff was in the Territorials, and was called up in September, 1939, when he was working at St. Ives chicory factory. He went to India about a year ago.

In a letter Mrs. Lantaff has received from the captain of her husband's unit, he says “Pte. Lantaff was a thundering gaud soldier, and an extremely hard and conscientious worker. He proved himself to be extremely brave under fire. and I and my men are very sorry and upset at his loss.”

The writer, describing the action, says “We had made a successful attack on an enemy position, and consolidated its gain. The enemy counter-attacked, and that was when your husband was shot. He died within 15 minutes. The stretcher bearer who administered morphia said that the last words he spoke were ‘I am sorry to be so much trouble to you’.”

The captain concluded by saying “I hope I shall be able to send you a photograph of his grave. If I can help in any way please let me know.”

REPORTED MISSING.—A telegram conveyed the sad news to Mr. and Mrs. W. Newby, Great Farthing Close, on Saturday that their only child, Stoker William John (“Bill”) Newby was reported missing following the sinking of a Japanese transport; it is feared that a large number of English prisoners of war in Jap hands lost their lives in this incident. “Bill”, who took part in, the action against the "Bismarck", was on board the Prince of Wales when she was sunk off Malaya in December, 1941. Very severely burned, he was saved and taken prisoner, and was sent to a hospital in Singapore. Twice his parents had notification of his being on the danger list. Following recovery he was sent to No. 2 Camp, Thailand. Before joining the Navy early in the war, Stoker Newby was with the International Stores and was a popular lad. Much sympathy is felt for his parents.

Yet another young St. Ivian has made the supreme sacrifice. Mr. and Mrs. Harold Radford, Cromwell place, having learnt on Saturday that their youngest son, Cpl. Cyril John (“Jack”) Radford, Green Howards, was killed in Europe during October. Aged 30, Cpl. Radford's home was in London; he leaves a widow and two young children.

Joining up soon after the war started, he served two years in the Middle East, and was the holder of the Africa Star. He took part in the landing in Sicily and came back to England about 12 months ago.

Whilst in hospital at Tripoli in August, 1943. Cpl. Radford, who was a clever artist, drew the designs of a “magic” book for children, the cost of printing being borne by his fellow patients and the medical staff of the hospital, so that all proceeds could be given to the Red Cross and St. John.

In a brief foreword, Cpl. Radford said that the pictures were drawn as a "gesture of appreciation" to the Red Cross, and he had the satisfaction of knowing that several thousands of copies had already been sold for that worthy cause.

“Jack”, as he was known to his friends, was educated at St. Ives Grammar School, being afterwards apprenticed to an ironmonger at Dorking. Later he was in business in London. He was a grandson of ex-Alderman Joseph Radford, and deep sympathy is felt for the...

Note: There is a HMS Ganges Association

Another popular young St. Ivian has made the supreme sacrifice—Able Seaman Eric Woolstenholmes, whose wife and two little daughters (aged seven and three) live at 21, Ramsey rd. Three telegrams notifying Mrs. Woolstenholmes that her husband was dangerously ill with burns were followed by another on Thursday with the sad news that he had passed away in a hospital. A letter on Monday said that he died on July 28th at Colombo, Ceylon.

Aged 32, Mr. Woolstenholmes was popular throughout the town. From the age of 15 up to joining the Navy over three years ago, he was in the postal service at St. Ives. His naval duties had taken him all over the world including visits to the U.S.A., Iceland, Russia, and Australia. The All Saints' Gym Club has lost one of its best all-round sportsmen, and his interest in cricket, football, and the Scout movement will be badly missed. For several years he was a server at the parish church.

The youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. F. Woolstenholmes, West-st., St. Ives, Eric was married nine years ago to Miss Ann Tyler of Stamford. Deep sympathy is felt with her and the little children, and with his parents, brothers and sisters.