Ministry of Defence
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Lest We Forget
British Legion
The Royal British Legion

WEST WALTON WAR MEMORIAL

World War 1 & 2 - Detailed information
Compiled and Copyright © Cliff Brown 2002
additional infromation and photographs courtesy & copyright © Dennis Lee 2011

The memorial in the village of West Walton in the Norfolk fens, on the border with Cambridgeshire, is a marble wheel cross on a pillar on a four stepped base with low corner posts. There is lead lettering at the base of the shaft and on the plinth and top step. A flower container stands in front of the memorial, which is in the centre of West Walton cemetery.

In 2006/7 English Heritage and the Wolfson Foundation gave a grant of £490 towards work to clean the memorial with water and masonry biocide, to repair damaged stonework and one of the corner posts, to repair lifted lettering and to paint areas of missing lettering.

The memorial was built in the early 1920s. After World War II names were added and memorial gates erected at the entrance to the cemetery.

The horizontal arms of the cross are inscribed with the dates 1914 and 1918 and Pro Deo et Patria is inscribed around the wheel.
[Details from The War Memorial Trust]

To the
dear memory
of our fallen

1914-18

ANDREW(S)

Samuel C

3/9044 Pte, D coy 2nd Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 4 March 15, age 18, Vierstraat sector. Born Islington (although birth records show Wisbech March 1897), enlisted Wisbech. Horseman for Messrs Clayton & Young, Walton. Parents Mr & Mrs R C Andrews, lived Terrington St John Fen End. No known grave. Commemorated on Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ypres, Belgium.

ANDREWS

William Silk

135763 Gunner, B Battery, 70th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Killed in action 12 May 17, age 26. Born St Ives September 1890. Formerly West Walton. Buried in Tilloy British Cemetery, Tilloy les Mofflaines. Also listed Wisbech.

BEDFORD

Thomas 'Tom'

6234 Pte, 2nd Suffolk Regiment. 26 August 14, age 29, Le Cateau. Born Walsoken March 1885, enlisted Wisbech. Son of the late Harvey and Jane Bedford, of Old Walsoken. Husband of May Bedford, West Walton. No known grave. Commemorated on La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial, Seine-Maritime, France.

CRANE

Page Ernest

Pte, 6th Royal Fusiliers. Born March 1886 in Walsingham District. Husband of Ethel Jane Crane (nee Vincent, married 21 November 10 at Sutton Bridge). Labourer, attested 6 December 15, mobilised 31 May 16, posted to 7th Royal Fusiliers 1 June 16. To 6th btn 13 September 16. Discharged sick 18 May 17, no longer fit, aggravated by normal military service. Aged 15, he was a farm boy, living Langham, Norfolk, in 1901 census. Died 2 September 17, age 31 at Blakeney, of chlorosis and heart failure. He had a wife and two small children and was discharged without a pension. He died less than 4 months later. See also Langham Memorial

COE

Ernest William

37299 Pte, BCompany, 1st Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action 31 July 16, age 23. Born West Walton December 1892, enlisted King's Lynn. Son of William & Mary Jane Coe, Station Rd, Clenchwarton. No known grave. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Also listed Walpole St Peter.

DAY

Frederick

7159 Sgt, 2nd Suffolk Regiment. Died of wounds 24 September 16. Born West Walton March 1883, enlisted Bury St Edmunds. Husband of M E Lock (formerly Day) of The Wroe, Emneth. Born at West Walton. Buried in West Walton Cemetery, Norfolk. Also listed Emneth.

EDGOOSE

Stanton Charles

307662 Pte (Rfn), 1/8th West Yorkshire Regiment. Died of wounds 20 August 17, at No 5 General Hospital, Exeter, (gassed 25 July 17 & admitted to 7th General Hospital). In France one year. Born West Walton September 1880, enlisted Grimsby. Eldest son of Mr Stanton Edgoose, Lyndhurst, West Walton. Buried in Grimsby (Scartho Road) Cemetery, Lincs.

FULCHER

James Henry

G/14949 Pte, 12th (2nd South Downs) Royal Sussex Regiment. Died of wounds 31-1-16, age 41. Formerly 4171 3/1st Cambridgeshire Regiment. Buried in Puchevillers British Cemetery, France.

HALSTEAD

William

2777 Cpl, CCompany, 1/1st Cambridgeshire Regiment. Killed in action 4 September 16. Born Walsoken, enlisted Wisbech. Son of Mr & Mrs Joseph Halstead, Grassgate Farm, Walsoken. Brother of Arthur, below. Buried in Knightsbridge Cemetery, Mesnil-Martinsart, France.

HALSTEAD

R Arthur

48402 Pte, 8th East Surrey. Killed in action 25 October 18, age 23. Husband of Edith Florence Halstead, West Walton. Lived Grassgate Farm, Walsoken. Brother of William (above). Buried in Preux-au-Bois Communal Cemetery, Nord, France.

HARNWELL

Walter John

Pte 6050, Middlesex Regiment. Killed in action 26 August 16. Son of Mr & Mrs John Harnwell. Age 24. In France two weeks when killed in action 26 August 16. Enlisted Middlesex Regiment. The grave stone that marks his grave does not contain his body. It was put there by his parents so that they had somewhere to go to remember him. It is close to his cousins grave Frank Moules, no. TF/6053 who died at home 1 October 16. They were both in the Middlesex Regiment.

HOWLING

William

40999 Pte, 2/6th North Staffordshire Regiment. Died 30 November 17. No known grave. Commemorated on Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, France.

HUBBARD

Charles Robert

40245 L/Cpl, 2nd Lincolnshire Regiment. Killed in action 4 March 17, age 22. Born King's Lynn, enlisted Wisbech, living West Walton. Son of James & Martha Hubbard, Harrolds Cottages, West Walton. Lived Church End, West Walton. Formerly 1319, 1/1st Cambridgeshire Regiment. No known grave. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

JACKSON

Benjamin Harold

203030 Pte, W coy. 1/4th Yorkshire Regiment. Died 4 September 18, age 20. Formerly Cambridgeshire Regiment. Son of Benjamin and Edith Ellen Jackson, The Clippers Arms, Walton Highway. Buried in Glageon Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord, France.

LYTHELL

George William

3/9095 Cpl, 2nd Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 13 November 16. Born Littleport, enlisted Wisbech. No known grave. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

LEADBITTER

Geoffrey

2nd Lt, 1/4th Northamptonshire Regiment. Killed in action Gaza 19 April 17. No known grave. Commemorated on Jerusalem Memorial, Israel.

MOULES

Frank

TF/6053 Pte, 1/7th Middlesex Regiment. Died of wounds (home) 1 October 16, age 22. Buried in West Walton Cemetery, Norfolk.

PLUMB

Arthur

2257 Pte, 1/1st Cambridgeshire Regiment. Killed in action 14 October 16, age 19. Born Wisbech, enlisted March. Eldest son of Frederick & Arabella Plumb, Tilney All Saints. Had worked for Hickman & Marshall, West Walton, then as horseman for J E Morton, Bedlam Farm, Coldham. Wife Mrs A J Plumb, later lived Mill End, Cherryhinton. Buried in Serre Road Cemetery No 2, France. Also listed Coldham.

THOMPSON

Ernest Roland

G/15280 Sgt, CCompany, 7th Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment. Killed in action 23 March 18, age 26. Born West Walton, enlisted Norwich, resident Wisbech. Formerly 14309 Norfolk Regiment. Son of George & Francis Thompson, of Hickman's Farm, Leverington. Brother of George & John. No known grave. Commemorated on Pozieres Memorial, Somme, France. Also listed Wisbech.

THOMPSON

George

8907 Pte, 2nd East Lancashire Regiment. Killed in action 4 March 17. Son of George & Francis Thompson, of Hickman's Farm, Leverington.Brother of Ernest & John. Buried in Fins New British Cemetery, Sorel-le-Grand, France. Also listed Wisbech.

THOMPSON

John

3/8485 Pte, 2nd Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 16 August 16. Born West Walton, enlisted Wisbech. Son of George & Frances Thompson, of Hickman's Farm, Leverington. Brother of Ernest & George, above. No known grave. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Also listed Wisbech.

WALTHAM

William

9204 L/Sgt, 2nd Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 13 November 16. Born & enlisted Wisbech. Buried in Luke Copse British Cemetery, Serre, Somme, France.

WEST

Thomas William

8707 Pte, 1st Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action 15 August 15, age 25. Born Walpole, enlisted Wisbech. Son of James & Annie West, River Road, West Walton. Buried in Norfolk Cemetery, Somme, France.

WEBB

Alfred

G/15283 L/Cpl, 8th Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment. Died of wounds 18 October 18, age 26. Formerly 14310 Norfolk Regiment. Son of Mr W J Webb, Walton Highway. Buried in Delsaux Farm Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.

WEBB

Charles Edward

172644 Gunner, 481st Siege Bty, Royal Garrison Artillery. Died 7 April 18, age 22. Son of William Webb, Homeleigh, St Paul's Rd, Walton Highway. Buried in Lillers Communal Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.

WOODIN

Albert Henry

510014 Cpl, Labour Corps. Died (home) 23 April 18, age 28. Son of Charles H Woodin, 54 Cardigan Road, Reading. Husband of Mary Woodin, Lyveden, Norwich Road, Wisbech. Lived Walton Highway. Formerly 5107 East Surrey Regiment. Husband of May Woodin, Norwich Road, Wisbech. Buried in Wisbech Borough Cemetery, Cambs.

"Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God"

1939-1945

BLISS  Maurice George
1881845 Sgt, 224 Squadron RAF. 26 February 1945, age 20. Son of George & Melinda Elizabeth Bliss, Tydd Gote. No known grave. Commemorated on Runnymede Memorial, Surrey.
BRAY  James
5933801 Cpl, 1st Lincolnshire Regiment. 20 August 1943, age 24. Nephew of Mrs P E Hurst Wisbech. No known grave. Commemorated on Rangoon Memorial, Myanmar.
GOODMAN  Stanley Clifford
T/582568 Staff Quartermaster Sgt (WO2), attached HQ II Corps, Royal Army Service Corps. 29 May 1940, age 26. Son of Robert Henry & Ruth Goodman, West Walton; husband of Nellie Phyllis Goodman, Oakham, Rutland. No known grave. Commemorated on Dunkirk Memorial, Nord, France.
HARNWELL  Kenneth Charles

593352 Cpl, HQ Coy 2nd Cambridgeshire Regiment. Killed in action 28 January 1942, age 22. Son of Charles & Ethel May Harnwell, West Walton. No known grave. Commemorated on Singapore Memorial, Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore.

HOMAN-BERRY  Cyril
964824 L/Bdr, 4 Rgt Royal Horse Artillery. 23 November 1941, age 24. Son of William George & Ettie Edith Homan-Berry, West Walton. Schoolmaster. Buried in Knightsbridge War Cemetery, Acroma, Libya.
NORMAN  Bernard

5773920 L/Cpl, 4th Royal Norfolk Regiment. Died 22 October 1943, as a Prisoner of War, age 25. Son of Mrs M A Norman, West Walton. Buried in Chungkai War Cemetery, Thailand.

Last updated 20 September, 2011

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