Roll of Honour - Cambridgeshire - Wisbech, Isle of Ely Constabulary

The Royal British Legion

TO THE GLORIOUS MEMORY OF THE CONSTABLES
OF THE ISLE OF ELY CONSTABULARY
WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR, 1914-1918

L/Cpl, 8287, 2nd Coldstream Guards. 14-11-14. Buried Sanctuary Wood Cemetery, Zillebeke, Belgium. Also listed Ely.

Lance Corporal 14417, 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards. Died 25 September 1916. Aged 28. Born St. Lukes, London, enlisted London. Policeman with Isle of Ely Constabulary. Husband of Nellie McKanna-Maulkin. Buried in Serre Road No 2 Cemetery, Somme, France. Plot XVI. Row G. Grave 10. Also listed Whittlesey.

Cpl, R/17353, 17th King's Royal Rifle Corps, age 29. Buried Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension No 1, Somme, France. Also listed Christchurch.

THIS MEMORIAL IS ERECTED BY THEIR COMRADES
SERVING IN THIS FORCE IN THE YEAR 1922
"LIVE THOU FOR ENGLAND, WE FOR ENGLAND DIED"

TO THE GLORIOUS MEMORY OF THE CONSTABLES
OF THE ISLE OF ELY CONSTABULARY
WHO FELL IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR 1939-1945

2613094, L/Sergeant, 6th Battalion Grenadier Guards. Died 30th January 1944, age 34. Son of William Bernard & Isabella Lees; husband of Marjorie Lees, of Haddenham. Buried Minturno War Cemetery, Italy. See also Haddenham

Extract from the Wisbech Standard 1944:

KILLED IN ACTION
Former Isle Police officer.

It was with very deep regret and real sorrow that the people of Haddenham learned of the news received by Mrs. Lees, of the Police House, High-street, that her husband Sgt. Geo. Edmund Lees was killed in action in Italy. This official communication was received from the War Office on Monday.

Re-called to service in the Grenadier Guards three months after the outbreak of war, Sgt. Lees went to North Africa nearly a year ago and was transferred to Italy in December last.

Ten years ago he joined the Isle of Ely Constabulary and was highly esteemed in Whittlesey, Wisbech, Sutton and March, where he was stationed before going to Haddenham. A well-known and popular officer, he took a keen interest in sport, especially cricket, playing for the Isle of Ely Police team and later for the Grenadier Guards.

Sgt. Lees, who was a native of Staffordshire,- was 34 years of age.

On Sept. 2nd, 1939, he married Miss Marjorie Howard, of Sutton, who until her marriage was a popular teacher at Haddenham School.

Although Sgt. Lees spent only a month as policeman in Haddenham, he made many friends and was greatly respected. Deep sympathy is felt for Mrs. Lees, who is at present on the teaching staff at Mepal School. Deceased also leaves a brother and sister.

George Frederick

2514197, Sergeant, 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards. Died 27th September 1944, age 28. Son of Frederick & Sarah Clay; husband of Joyce Lilian Clay, of Welwyn Garden City, Herts. Buried Heesch Roman Catholic Cemterey, Netherlands.

Extract from Wisbech Standard 1944:

350068, Lieutenant, Royal Norfolk Regiment (police memorial says Corps of Military Police). Died 30th May 1945, age 33. Son of Edmund Wallace Simpson & Harriett Simpson, of Nottingham; husband of Doris Kathleen Simpson, of 31 Downham Rd, Ely. Served in Grenadier Guards 1931-35, joined Isle police in 1935, being stationed at Ely until called up as a reservist in 1939. Buried Delhi War Cemetery, India. See also Ely WW2

THIS MEMORIAL IS ERECTED BY THEIR COMRADES
SERVING IN THIS FORCE IN THE YEAR 1945
"LIVE THOU FOR ENGLAND, WE FOR ENGLAND DIED"

WISBECH ISLE OF ELY CONSTABULARY WAR MEMORIAL