Roll of Honour - Hertfordshire - Harmer Green & Digswell

Ministry of Defence

Lest We Forget

The Royal British Legion

HARMER GREEN & DIGSWELL WAR MEMORIAL

World War 1 & 2 - Roll of Honour with detailed information
Compiled and copyright © Martin Edwards 2018

The memorial is to be found on the village green in Harmer Green Lane, Harmer green, Welwyn, Hatfield, Hertfordshire. It takes the form of a tall, plain, Celtic cross on a square plinth with the incised inscription and names standing on a two stepped base; the dates are to be found in relief on the wheel of cross. There are 123 names for World War 1 and one for World War 2.

TO THE
GLORIOUS MEMORY
OF THE MEN
WHO GAVE THEIR
LIVES IN
THE GREAT WAR
1914-1919.

CADWELL	[Charles] Victor	Private 17607, 3rd (Garrison) Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Died on service in United Kigdom 15 May 1915. Aged 19. Born at King's Walden, Hitchin, Herts (SDGW states Wheathampstead), resident Welwyn, Hertfordshire, enlisted Bedford. Son of Frederick and Charlotte Cadwell, of Digswell Lodge Farm, Digswell, Welwyn, Herts. Buried in FELIXSTOWE NEW CEMETERY, Suffolk. Row J. Grave 4.
DIXON	Charles Howard	Lieutenant, Royal Field Artillery. Died, in Carnarvon Hospital, of gun shot wounds to the left buttock 12 September 1917, first admitted to Queen Alexandra's Military Hospital, Millbank, 24 November 1916 then transferred. Aged 22. Buried in WARESIDE (HOLY TRINITY) CHURCHYARD, Hertfordshire.
EDWARDS	William Winter	Lance Corporal G/12821, 1st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died of wounds 13 April 1918. Aged 20. Born Dalston, Middlesex (CWGC states High Welwyn, Hertforshire), resident Whetstone, Middlesex, enlisted Welwyn, Hertfordshire. Son of Albert Samuel and Emily Edwards, of 44, Pollard Rd., Oakleigh Park, Middlesex, London. Baptised in Digswell in 1911. In the 1911 census he was aged 13, born Hackney, London, a Student at School, son of Emily Edwards (a widow), resident of Winterton Digswell, Hertfordshire. Buried in LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot XXVI. Row F. Grave 11.
EPHGRAVE	Edmund Thomas	Company Sergeant Major 7982, 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action 12 October 1916. Born 16 March 1886 in Digswell, Hertfordshire, resident Stevenage, Hertfordshire, enlisted Welwyn, Hertfordshire. Between 1889 and 1898 he is recorded as attaneding Digswell St John's National School, Digswell, hertfordshire. In the 1891 census he was listed as Edmond, aged 5, born Hertfordshire, a Scholar, son of Thonmas and Eleanor Ephgrave, resident Digswell, Hatfield, Hertfordshire. In the 1901 census he was aged 15, born Digswell, Hertfordshire, an Agricultural Labourer, son of Thomas and Eleanor Ephgrave, resident Tewin Lodge, Digswell, Hatfield, Hertfordshire. Buried in WARLENCOURT BRITISH CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Plot II. Row J. Grave 37.
KNAPP	Albert Frank	Private G/15380, 10th Battalion, Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Killed in action 30 September 1916. Born Coombe, Hampshire, resident Cobham, Surrey, enlisted Walton, Surrey. Husband of Annie Knapp (nee Hoare), married 218 February 1911 in Cobham, Surrey; two children. Attested 31 December 1915, aged 28 years 7 months, height 5 feet 4 inches, weight 112lbs, chest 32¾ inches, Gamekeeper by trade, married. To Army Reserve 4 December 1915, mobilized 29 May 1916, posted 3rd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment 30 May 1916, posted to Base 5 September 1916 then 10th Battalion. Buried in BANCOURT BRITISH CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Plot IX. Row C. Grave 17. * This man is an anomaly as these are the only details that fit but no association with Harmer Green or Digswell is as yet obvious *
MARDELL	James	Private 30958, 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Died on service 27 April 1917. Born and resident Welwyn, Hertfordshire, enlisted Bedford. IN the 1901 census he was aged 19, born Welwyn, a Domestic Gardener, son of Ann Mardell (a widow), resident 2, Welwyn Hill, Welwyn, Hatfield, Hertfordshire. In the 1911 census he was aged 29, born Welwyn, Hertfordshire, a Domestic Gardener, married to Constance, two daughters, resident Digswell Water Lodge, Digswell, Hertfordshire. No known grave. Commemorated on ARRAS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 5.
MILES	Herbert Francis	Acting Captain, 2nd Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers. Killed in action 3 September 1916. Buried in DELVILLE WOOD CEMETERY, LONGUEVAL, Somme, France. Plot XXIII. Row K. Grave 4.
POWELL	Owen Philip	Sub-Lieutenant, H.M.S. "Verulam," Royal Navy. Died 3 September 1919. Aged 21. Killed 24 February 1898. Son of Owen Markham Powell and Harriet Powell, of Harmer Green, Welwyn, Herts. Enlisted 15 September 1916, Sub-Lieuteantr 15 May 1918. Baptised 11 April 1898 in West Clandon, Surrey. Buried in Styrsudd Point Cemetery and commemorated on ARCHANGEL MEMORIAL, Russian Federation. Addenda Panel.
RUSSELL	David [Leslie]	Captain, 8th (County of London) Battalion (Post Office Rifles), London Regiment. Died of wounds 23 May 1915. Aged 24. Son of Margaret S. Russell, of Lane End, Sawbridgeworth, Herts, and the late W. E. Russell. Educated at Haileybury College, and Hertford College, Oxford. Buried in BETHUNE TOWN CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Plot II. Row H. Grave 16.
RUSSELL	Lawrence	Lieutenant, 2nd Battalion, Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment). Killed in action 24 August 1914. Aged 22. Born 10 June 1892. Son of William Ernest and Margaret Susan Russell, of Lane End, Sawbridgeworth, Herts. Buried in HAUTRAGE MILITARY CEMETERY, Hainaut, Belgium. Plot I. Row A. Grave 5. Extract from Bond of Sacrifice: Officers Died in the Great War 1914-1916, Volume 1, page 345: LIEUTENANT LAWRENCE EDWARD RUSSELL, 2nd BATTN. THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON'S (WEST RIDING REGIMENT), who was included in the War Office monthly casualty list, published on the 9th October, 1914, as unofficially reported killed in action, was the son of Mrs. Russell, Bryn, Digswell, Welwyn, Herts. He was born on the 10th June, 1892, joined the West Riding Regiment in September, 1911, and became Lieutenant in April, 1914.
SHADBOLT	Edward [James]	Sergeant 15786, 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action 15 September 1916. Aged 22. Born 12 November 1893 in Burnham Green, Hertfordshire, baptised 10 November 1893 in Digswell, son of Walter and Susan Jane Shadbolt, resident Burnham Green, Hertfordshire, enlisted Hertford. Son of Walter Shadbolt, of Burnham Green; husband of Amy Ellen Shadbolt, of Beulah House, Burnham Green, Welwyn, Herts. In the 1911 census he was aged 17, born Digswell, a Gardener, son of Walter and Sarah Jane Shadbolt, resident Burnham Green, Digswell, Hertfordshire. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 2 C.
UNDERHILL	Frank [Gilbert]	Acting Lance Corporal 3201, 3rd/1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment. Killed in action 30 July 1916. Born and resident Radwell, Hertfordshire, enlisted Hertford. Son of Martha Underhill, of Radwell, Baldock, Herts. Attested 19 September 1914 at Hertford, aged 23 years 9 months, parents deceased when he attested, height 5 feet 9 inches. chest 32 inches, fresh complexion, brown eyes, brown hair, religious denomination Church of England. Posted and embodied 19 September 1914, embarked Southampton 6 May 1916, disembarked Rouen 7 May 1916, to No. 6 Entrenching Battalion 19 May 1916, attached 8th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment 11 July 1916. In the 1891 census he was newborn, son of John and Martha Underhill, resident Radwell Lane, Radwell, Hitchin, Hertfordshire. In the 1901 census he was aged 10, born Radwell, Hertfordshire, son of John and Martha Underhill, resident Rectory Lane, Radwell, Hitchin, Hertfordshire. Buried in CATERPILLAR VALLEY CEMETERY, LONGUEVAL, Somme, France. Grave lost. Special Memorial 16.
YORKE, MC	James Hamilton Langdon	Captain, 24th (Pembroke and Glamorgan Yeomanry) Battalion, Welsh Regiment. Killed in action 27 December 1917. Aged 33. Son of Mr. J. C. Yorke, J.P., of Langton, Durbach, Pembrokeshire; husband of Violet Mary Yorke, of 8, Argyll Mansions, Chelsea, London. Awarded the Military Cross (M.C.). In 1898 he was attending Haileybury School, Hertford. In the 1901 census he was aged 16, born new Zealand (British Subject), a student, pupil, resident Great Amwell, Ware, Hertfordshire. In the 1911 census he was married, born Iki, New Zealand, married, a boarder, living on Private Means, resident 627 Atherstone Terrace, St. Stephens, Kensington, London, with his wife, Violet Mary Yorke, married that year. Buried in JERUSALEM WAR CEMETERY, Israel and Palestine (including Gaza). Section E. Grave 75.
1939-1945
WALKER	John	Chief Petty Officer C/234868, H.M.S. "Badger," Royal Navy. Died at Ipwich Naval Base 29 October 1940. Aged 51. Born 1 January 1889 in Harrogate, Yorkshire. Husband of Margaret Kate Walker, of Welwyn, Hertfordshire. In the 1939 Register he was a Commissionaire (Office), married to Margaret R Walker, resident 1 Station Road , Welwyn R.D., Hertfordshire. Buried in SHOTLEY ROYAL NAVAL CEMETERY, Suffolk. Plot 1. Row C. Grave 7.

Last updated 11 December, 2018

War Memorials Trust