Roll of Honour - Cambridgeshire

Ministry of Defence

Lest We Forget

The Royal British Legion

HISTON METHODIST WAR MEMORIAL

World War 1 and 2 - Rolls of Honour with detailed information
Compiled and copyright © 2000 Ann Thompson

The Histon Methodist War memorial is to be found within the church and takes the form of a stone tablet with a triangular pediment with the inscription in black lettering in the centre flanked by two columns with names. There is a crown within a wreath carved in relief at the top centre of the pediment. There are nine names for World War 1 and three for World War 2.

TO THE GLORY OF GOD
IN HONOURED MEMORY
OF THOSE CONNECTED WITH THIS CHURCH
WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR

1914 - 1919

BIGGS	James	Gunner 198356, "C" Battery, 78th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Died of wounds 26th October 1918. Born Histon, enlisted Cambridge. Employed Chivers & Sons Ltd, Histon. Buried in VENDEGIES-AU-BOIS CHURCHYARD, Nord, France. Grave 4. See also Histon and Impington War Memorial
FROST	John	Private 28901, 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards, formerly 3480, Household Battalion, who died of wounds in 35th General Hospital, Calais, on Monday 14th October 1918. Born 23rd february 1886. Enlisted Cambridge. Husband of Rose Frost, of Water Lane, Histon. In the 1901 census he was aged 15, born Gislingham, Suffolk, a Yard Boy on Farm, son of Keziah Frost (a widow), resident Back Street, Gislingham, Hartismere, Suffolk. In the 1911 census he was aged 25, born Gislingham, Suffolk, a Farm Labourer, married to Rose Frost who was born in Histon, aged 27, a Factory hand, resident Water Lane, Histon, Cambridgeshire. Buried in LES BARAQUES MILITARY CEMETERY, SANGATTE, Pas de Calais, France. Plot V. Row G. Grave 7. His grandson Bruce Frost of Littleport adds: "I visited the grave with my father, Robert, in 1957, and have photographs that we took on that occasion. I also have the photograph originally supplied to my grand mother, of a wooden cross said to mark grandad's grave. The irony is that this cemetery is so near to the coast, that it was flattened during the Second World War, and it is anybodys guess as to what exactly is now under the present white marble gravestones. I have both the original telegrams, sent to my grandmother, the first saying that grandad had been wounded in the back, and was in hospital in the 35th General Hospital, Calais. The telegram "regrets that permission to visit cannot be granted". As if my grandmother, with three small children, could have afforded it anyway! The second telegram says that grandad had died, and Family legend says that he was already on the boat to be brought home, but they removed his body, and buried him in "La belle France". I also have the statement of accounts of his pay as a soldier, which concludes that the sum of £1.5s.11d. was found on the deceased! I understand that he was a "Jam Factory Hand" at Chivers & Sons Limited, before he enlisted. See also Histon and Impington War Memorial
GAWTHROP	George	Gunner 200205, "C" Battery, 223rd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery who died on Sunday, 22nd September 1918. Aged 38. Son of Jacob and Hannah Gawthrop; husband of Phoebe Gawthrop, of Impington Lane, Histon, Cambridge. Employed Chivers & Sons Ltd, Histon. Buried in LEBUCQUIERE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, Pas de Calais, France. Plot III. Row C. Grave 20. See also Histon and Impington War Memorial
KNIGHTLEY, DCM	Arthur Ernest	Serjeant, 15701, 11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment who died on Sunday, 26th August 1917. Born Impington, Cambs, enlisted Cambridge. Husband of G. M. Knightley, of The Mill, Histon, Cambs. Awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (D.C.M.). Buried in HARGICOURT BRITISH CEMETERY, Aisne, France. Plot I. Row C. Grave 33. See also Histon and Impington War Memorial
LEET	Arthur Richard	Bombardier 93957, Royal Field Artillery. Died of gas poisoning 9th July 1919. Aged 37. Husband of Lily Maude Leet (she died 11th January 1956, aged 73). Father of three children - Violet, Gladys and Maude. Buried in HISTON CEMETERY, Cambridgeshire. See also Histon and Impington War Memorial
MANSFIELD	Bertie aka Albert	Private G/17657, 9th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment who was killed in action on Monday, 11th June 1917. Born Impington, enlisted Bury St Edmunds. Employed Chivers & Sons Ltd, Histon. No known grave. Commemorated on the YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 20. See also Impington St. Andrew dead. See also Histon and Impington War Memorial
MANSFIELD	John	Private 328074, 1/1st Battalion, Cambridgeshire Regiment, formerly 6752, Cambridgeshire Regt. who was killed in action, France and Flanders, on Friday, 23rd November 1917. Born Impington, enlisted Bury St Edmunds. No known grave. Commemorated on the TYNE COT MEMORIAL, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 148. See also Impington St. Andrew dead. See also Histon and Impington War Memorial
WILDERSPIN	Albert G	Private 15818, 11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment who was killed in action on Thursday, 3rd August 1916.Born Histon, enlisted Cambridge. Employed Chivers & Sons Ltd, Histon. No known grave. Commemorated on the THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 1 C and 2 A.See also Histon and Impington War Memorial
WILDERSPIN	William Joseph	Private 15901, "B" Company. 11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment who was killed in action on Saturday, 1st July 1916. Aged 18. Born Histon, enlisted Cambridge. Son of Mrs. F. Wilderspin, of High St., Histon, Cambridge. Employed Chivers & Sons Ltd, Histon. Buried in GORDON DUMP CEMETERY, OVILLERS-LA BOISSELLE, Somme, France. Plot VI. Row H. Grave 1. See also Histon and Impington War Memorial
1939 - 1945
BENNETT	Franklin James	Private, 5932687, 1st Bn. The Cambridgeshire Regiment, Suffolk Regiment who died on Tuesday, 19th October 1943. Age 24. Prisoner of War. Cause and place of death unknown. Son of Laurie and Alice Bennett; husband of Edna Bennett, of Stockton-on-Tees, Co. Durham. Buried in CHUNGKAI WAR CEMETERY, Thailand. Plot 9. Row K. Grave 13. See also Histon and Impington War Memorial Extract from local paper: Driver F. J. Bennett, Cambs. Regiment, husband, of Mrs. Edna Bennett, of Redear, Yorks., and only son of Mr. and Mrs. L. Bennett, of 42, Cottenham Road, Histon. Educated at Histon Council School before being called up he worked for Mr. Brown, Gwydir Street, Cambridge. On Saturday his wife received an undated telegram, which said "Safe and well."
PARKER	Charles Robert George	Lieutenant, 204309, 6th Bn., Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regt who died on Monday, 26th October 1942. Age 21. Son of Herbert and Maud Parker, of Histon, Cambridgeshire. Buried in EL ALAMEIN WAR CEMETERY, Egypt. Plot XXVII. Row G. Grave 14. See also Histon and Impington War Memorial
TOLLIDAY	Jack	Trooper, 7956546, 'C' Sqn., Royal Scots Greys (2nd Dragoons), R.A.C. who died on Thursday, 16th September 1943. Age 36. Son of George and Elsie Tolliday; husband of Marguerite L. S. Tolliday, of Histon, Cambridgeshire. No known grave. Commemorated on the CASSINO MEMORIAL, Italy. Panel 1. See also Histon and Impington War Memorial

Last updated 29 July, 2025

War Memorials Trust