The Ramsey War Memorial, Cambridgeshire.

W. W. II

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The information in this section was kindly provided by Joan Whitwell, of Upwood, who has painstakingly researched the men of both world wars that are recorded on our local memorial.           'We shall remember them'

Link to History of Ramsey War Memorial.

Link to W.W. I names on Ramsey War Memorial

W.W. II - Names on Ramsey War Memorial.

ADAMS, Eric Frederick

Marine – PO/X.107560

H.M.S. NELSON, Royal Marines.

Born 27th April 1922, son of William & Martha (nee TIBBLES) ADAMS, died at the Churchill Hospital, Oxford, on Friday, 1st February, 1946, aged 23 years, and was buried in Ramsey St. Mary’s churchyard.  He married Dorothy Melba EMMINGTON at Holme in November 1943, and besides the widow, he left a son Roger, aged about 18 months.    [Not on Ramsey memorial;  on Holme memorial]    

 

Allen, Cecil Edward

Sherwood Foresters

 

econd son of Mr. H. ALLEN of 3 Woodstone Terrace, Ramsey, died at Papworth Hospital after a long illness on 2nd March 1944, aged 33 years, and was buried in Ramsey Cemetery.  Having been in the Regular Army for nearly ten years and a Reserve for two years, he then served with the British Expeditionary Force in France for five months, when he was discharged from the Army owing to ill health.  He left a widow, Mrs. Emma ALLEN, and six small children living at 47 High Street, Ramsey.   [Not on Ramsey memorial]

AVORY, George Alfred

Sergeant – 926777

78 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.

born 18th June 1920, son of Mr. & Mrs. George Alfred & Agnes AVORY of Ramsey Fortyfoot, a wireless operator/air gunner, was killed in action while operating over enemy territory on Thursday, 3rd July 1941, aged 21 years.  He was buried in the Jonkerbos War Cemetery, near Nijmegen, about 16 kilometers from Arnhem, the Netherlands.

AVORY, Lawrence Sidney

Stoker, First Class – P/KX.111951

Royal Navy – H.M.S. COSSACK.

 

born 13th May 1919, third son of Charles & Rose Ellen (nee HOLLIS) AVORY of 49 Great Whyte, Ramsey, joined the Royal Navy in July 1940, and was killed on active service when the ship on which he was serving was torpedoed by a German U-Boat and sunk off the coast of southern Spain.  He died on Thursday, 23rd October 1941, aged 21 years, and is commemorated by name on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, situated on Southsea Common overlooking the promenade, Hampshire.  Earlier in the year, the famous destroyer H.M.S. COSSACK had intercepted the German supply ship ALTMARK on the Norwegian Fjords. The ALTMARK was holding British merchant seamen, crews from ships sunk by the German pocket battleship ADMIRAL GRAF SPREE, and secured the release of about three hundred British prisoners.  Four more of Mr. & Mrs. AVORYs sons served – Charles AVORY in the Royal Artillery, Cyril AVORY in the R.A.M.C., Ronald AVORY in the R.A.S.C. and Maurice AVORY in the Royal Navy.

BARLOW, Wilfred Raymond

Aircraftman, 2nd Class – 1173074

Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

only son of Horace Henry & Elsie BARLOW of Bridge House, Ramsey St. Marys, was killed as a result of enemy action while on duty in London on the night of Friday, 25th October 1940, aged 20 years, and was buried in the churchyard at Ramsey St. Marys.  He enlisted in July and had spent the previous week-end on short leave with his parents and his fiancee, Miss Elsie BRADSHAWE.  Previous to enlistment in July 1940, he was an apprentice to Mr. Norman SMITHDALE, motor engineers, of Ramsey St. Marys.     [Also on Ramsey St. Marys memorial]

BEDFORD, Jack

Lance Corporal – 5882886

1st Bn. Cambridgeshire Regt, Suffolk Regt.

youngest son of George William & Jane BEDFORD of 50 The Avenue, Ramsey, who was taken prisoner at Singapore and had been in a prison camp in Thailand, was later reported “missing at sea” when the transport in which he was being conveyed from Thailand to the Japanese mainland was sunk.  He is believed to have died on Thursday, 21st September 1944, aged 30 years. and is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial, which stands in the Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore.  Before being called up at the beginning of the War, he was in the Territorial Army, had worked as a bricklayers labourer on the construction of the surrounding aerodromes, and was at one time employed by Mr. COX of March, Cambs.  L/Cpl. BEDFORD left a widow Evelyn BEDFORD and two young children, the youngest of whom he had never seen, living at Chain Bridge, March.     [Also on March memorial]

BEETON, Wilfred Roy

Sergeant – 1359941

Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

born 26th April 1912, son of Wilfred & Elsie Amelia (nee CARTER) BEETON, was in business on his own account before joining the R.A.F.  A wireless operator/air gunner attached to a Bomber Squadron, he was killed in action on the night of Saturday, 17th January 1942, aged 29 years, and was buried in the Old Cemetery, Fletton.  He left a widow Beatrice Mary (nee WELHAM) BEETON and two young children, living at East Bergholt, Suffolk.    [Also on Ramsey Grammar School memorial]

BOWD, Lawrence William

Sergeant/Air Gunner – 3005645

Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

elder son of Ernest & Hilda Nellie BOWD of South View, Ramsey Fortyfoot, was killed as a result of a flying accident in Devonshire while on active service, on Tuesday 12th September 1944, aged 20 years, and was buried in Ramsey Cemetery.  He had been in the R.A.F. for eleven months and had completed many hours flying time and was due to take some leave on the Saturday following the accident.  After leaving school, he served his apprenticeship with Messrs. BATEMAN & Co, motor engineers of Ramsey, and had been a member of the A.T.C. and the Home Guard.

BREEZE, Ernest William

Private – 5882375

2nd Bn. Northamptonshire Regt.

son of George & Elizabeth (nee GRAY) BREEZE of 8 Woodstone Terrace, Ramsey, who had been reported missing since the Dunkirk evacuation, was killed in action on the Western Front, on Tuesday, 4th June 1940, aged about 32 years, and was buried in the Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord, France.  Being a Reservist, he was recalled immediately at the outbreak of the War.  Prior to the present War, he had served in India for seven years and Egypt for one year.  He left a widow Vera Mabel Mary (nee BASSETT) BREEZE, who he had married at Ramsey on 29th April 1939, and a young son Michael, living at Newtown Road, Ramsey.

BULLEN, Albert John William

Driver – 14271857

6th Tank Brigade, Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers.

son of William James & Alice BULLEN of Hilgay, Norfolk, died on Saturday, 24th June 1944, aged 34 years.  The 6th Guards Tank Brigade Workshop was stationed between Lenham & Charing, and Driver BULLEN and some other of his Brigade comrades were killed by a flying bomb, and were buried in the cemetery at Lenham, Kent.  Besides the widow Martha Evelyn Victoria (nee POTTS) BULLEN, who he married at Ramsey on 4th July 1938, he left a young daughter Barbara Ann, living at Hemingways Yard, Great Whyte, Ramsey.  Prior to joining the Army, he was employed as a butcher at the Ramsey branch of the Peterborough Co-operative Society.

  BULLEN, T.S.

Sergeant

Royal Air Force.

almost certainly a misreading and should be T.S. BUTLER, R.A.

 

 

BUTLER, Thomas Sidney

Serjeant – 5882787

15 Battery, 6th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regt, Royal Artillery.

born 16th May 1915, eldest son of Thomas George BUTLER, who had served as a Gunner in the R.F.A. during W.W.I. & Charlotte Ann (nee TIBBLES) BUTLER of Wellington House Farm, Ramsey St. Marys, had been a prisoner-of-war in Japanese hands for more than two years.  He died on Saturday, 9th December 1944, aged 29 years, and his grave is in the Djakarta (Jakarta) War Cemetery, Menteng Poeloe, Java, Indonesia.  He left a widow Gertrude Phyllis BUTLER, living at Sampford Brett, Somerset.    [Also on Ramsey St. Marys memorial]

CADE, William Henry (Harry)

Staff Sergeant/Observer – 1389837

619 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.

born 10th May 1912, the youngest son of Charles & Emma Jane (nee LANT) CADE of 58 High Street, Ramsey, was killed in action after a raid on Berlin on Monday night, 23rd August 1943, aged 31 years, and was buried in the Kiel War Cemetery, Germany.  He joined up in August 1941, was trained in the Dominions and had been on operational flights over the previous four months.      [Also on Ramsey Grammar School memorial]

CARRINGTON, Laurence Eric (Laurie)

Private – 14675604

1st Bn. Hampshire Regiment.

 

born 9th March 1925, third son of Thomas & Ada Mary (nee APTHORPE) CARRINGTON of the Council Houses, Ramsey Heights, was killed in action in Normandy on Friday, 11th August 1944, aged 19 years, and was buried in the St. Charles de Percy War Cemetery, Calvados, France.  His section had been ordered to take a piece of ground from which the enemy were giving much trouble, and it was in the advance he was caught in the fire from an enemy automatic and killed instantly, and was buried by the Padre the next day with two more of his comrades.  Most of those buried in this cemetery died in the last day or two of July and the first two weeks of August 1944, when the British Forces broke out from the Normandy bridgehead and were later able to trap the Germans.  Pte. CARRINGTON had been in the Army for less than a year, and had two older brothers serving.      [Also on Ramsey St. Marys memorial]

COX, Harold

Private – 5837166

2/5th Bn. The Queen’s Royal Regt.  (West Surrey)

born 23rd August 1922, son of Harry & Letitia COX of 55 The Avenue, Ramsey, was reported to be in hospital seriously ill after being wounded in action in the Central Mediterranean theatre of war suffering from gunshot wounds in the head, arm and back, on 3rd February 1944.  He died on Monday, 6th March 1944, aged 21 years, and was buried in the Naples War Cemetery, Italy.  He had joined the Suffolk Regt. about two years previously and was attached to the “Queen’s”.  Before joining the Army he was a canteen assistant at a local public works and a member of the Home Guard.  Mr. & Mrs. COX also had two sons who served in the Royal Navy and another son was held a prisoner-of-war in Japanese hands.

CULLIP, Cyril

Private – 14631379

2/6th Bn. Queen’s Royal Regt. (West Surrey)

born 6th October 1924, the eldest son of Alfred George & Clara (nee ABRAMS) CULLIP of 30 Station Road, Ramsey, joined the Northamptonshire Regt. on 17th July 1943.  After spending a short Christmas 1943 leave with his parents, he proceeded to the Front, and on 28th February 1944 he was reported to be seriously ill with gunshot wounds to his left foot and left arm, received while on active service in the Central Mediterranean theatre of war.  He died on Wednesday, 1st March 1944, aged 19 years, and was buried in the Naples War Cemetery, Italy.  Mr. & Mrs. CULLIP had three other sons.      [Also a wall tablet in Ramsey Baptist Chapel]

DAVIS, Philip Oscar

Flying Officer – 115138

511 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.

 

second son of Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth DAVIS & the late Frank Richards DAVIS of Bleak House, 23 Blenheim Road, Ramsey, was reported missing and since presumed killed on the night of Tuesday, 10th August 1943, aged 22 years, and is commemorated on the Malta Memorial, located in the area of Floriana, Malta.  He joined the R.A.F. at the outbreak of the War and quickly attained his wings as a Fighter Sergeant Pilot, later being promoted to commissioned rank.  After taking part in the Battle of Britain, he had just been granted the Freedom of the City of Coventry, where he had served his articles in aircraft construction.  He had recently been operating from Gibralter and was actually on his way home in a bomber for a well-earned rest when the plane was reported missing.     [Also on Ramsey Grammar School memorial]

DAWSON, George William

Flight Sergeant/Air Gunner – 1875339

466 (R.A.A.F.) Sqdn, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.

born 17th December 1924, eldest son of William Ward & Violet DAWSON of 24 New Road, Ramsey, lost his life as a result of air operations during the night of Sunday, 15th October 1944, and was buried in the Sage War Cemetery, Germany.  He was the rear-gunner, one of a crew of seven, in a Halifax plane which was on an operational flight near Jackstede.  Having previously been wounded in the legs during a flying operation over France, he had spent some time in a Yorkshire hospital.  Before joining the R.A.F. in 1943, he was employed as an assistant at the International Stores, Ramsey.

DEAN, Claude Edwin (Bill)

Private – 5827609

2nd Bn.Suffolk Regt.

son of George & Florence (nee BRADFORD) DEAN of Ramsey Mereside, had been abroad for two and a half years when he was killed in action in Burma on Wednesday, 7th June 1944, aged 25 years, and was buried in the Imphal War Cemetery, Manipur State, north east India.  Before joining up in November 1939, he was employed by his father.  He left a widow Ethel (nee SNEESBY) DEAN, and a daughter Janet, living at Benwick.

DUFFY, Phillip Paul

Sergeant/Observer – 525887

142 Sqdn. Royal Air Force.

was killed in a plane crash while engaged in night flying operations on Sunday, 4th August 1940, aged 24 years, and was buried in Ramsey Cemetery.  He left a widow Vera (nee GARTON) DUFFY.       [Added to Ramsey memorial]

EDWARDS, Reginald

Private – L/2261

Saskatoon Light Infantry, (M.G.), R.C.I.C.

born 16th May 1900, son of George Henry & Julia (nee HARVEY) EDWARDS of 25 Newtown Road, Ramsey, was killed in action on Thursday, 9th December 1943, aged 43 years, and his grave is in the Moro River Canadian War Cemetery, Chieti, Italy.  He left a widow, Florence (nee LAVENDER) EDWARDS, who he married at Ramsey Church on 24th December 1920, living at Field Terrace, Ramsey.  After serving in the Army during World War I, he emigrated to Canada in 1926.

EMMINGTON, Leonard

Sergeant – 749032

99 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.

son of George William & Louisa (nee CUMBRIDGE) EMMINGTON of Ramsey St. Marys, died in the India Command Hospital at Bombay, after a week’s illness from toxic hepatitus, on Thursday, 14th September 1944, aged 41 years, and his grave is in the Kandy War Cemetery (formerly known as the Pitakande Military Cemetery), Sri Lanka (Ceylon).  He joined the R.A.F. two months before the War started and had been stationed in Ceylon for three years.  Before joining the R.A.F. he had been employed as a fitter’s labourer at the Newall Engineering Co, Peterborough.  Besides the widow, Edith Florence Grace (nee ALLEN) EMMINGTON, he left a 10 year old son, living at 46 St. Leonards Street, Peterborough.         [On Ramsey St. Marys memorial only]

FEAST, John William (Jack)

Gunner – 1055916

33rd Field Regt, Royal Artillery.

son of Edward & Carrie FEAST, had been reported missing since ‘Dunkirk’, and was later presumed to have been killed in action on Saturday, 1st June 1940, aged 36 years, and is commemorated on the Dunkirk Memorial which stands at the entrance to the British War Graves Section of the Dunkirk Town Cemetery, Nord, France.  As a Reservist, he was called up at the beginning of the War, having previously been employed as a lorry driver for Messrs. SLOTE Brothers, of Ramsey St. Marys.  He left a widow Lilian May (nee SHAILES) FEAST living at Ramsey St. Marys.      [Also on Ramsey St. Marys & Holme memorials]

FRANCIS, Alfred James William

Private – 5827514

4th Bn. Suffolk Regt.

eldest son of Alfred James & Jessie FRANCIS of the Council Houses, Ramsey Mereside, died on Wednesday, 23rd August 1945, aged 25 years, and his name is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial which stands in the Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore.  He had been taken prisoner at Singapore on 15th February 1942, and died at sea from exposure and heat while a prisoner of war in Japanese hands in Thailand.  Before joining the Suffolk Regt. in October 1939, he was employed by Mr. John Edward CADE.

GILDING, Maurice William

Warrant Officer/Observer - 562116

70 Sqdn. Royal Air Force.

born 23rd November 1911, younger son of  William Ewart & Mabel Emma (nee HOOKS) GILDING of 37 Field Terrace, Ramsey, was reported missing from air operations in the Middle East in September 1942, and he died on Tuesday, 22nd September 1942, aged 31 years, after a nine-day struggle to reach safety after his aircraft made a forced landing in the remote Qattara Depression in Egypt.  His remains (confirmed by his identity discs) were found after the War - by a party of American oilmen – and were buried in the El Alamein War Cemetery, Egypt.  Mr. & Mrs. GILDING’s elder son Alec Rupert GILDING was also on active service in the R.A.F.      [Also on Ramsey Grammar School memorial]

GREENWOOD, Cyril James

Private – 14568800

1/6th Bn. The Queen’s Royal Regt (West Surrey)

youngest son of John William & Rose (nee TOWNSEND) GREENWOOD of 18 Newtown Road, Ramsey, went out to Normandy on the 7th June 1944 (the day after ‘D-Day’).  He was killed in action there on Tuesday, 8th August 1944, aged 19 years, and was buried in the Bayeux War Cemetery, Calvados, France.  The town of Bayeux, in Normandy, was the first French town of importance to be liberated from the Germans in June 1944.  Before joining up he was employed by the Central Meat Co, Ramsey, and for a short time with Bury Transport Co.  Mr. & Mrs. GREENWOOD had two other sons serving:  Ken GREENWOOD who was a Petty Officer in the Royal Navy, and Jack GREENWOOD a corporal (military policeman) in the R.A.F.

GREENWOOD, Howard Gordon

Driver – T/328731

Royal Army Service Corps, attd. 42nd Lt. Anti-Aircraft Regt., Royal Artillery.

fourth son of Bertie & Martha GREENWOOD of 131 Great Whyte, Ramsey, died on Sunday, 5th August 1945, aged 25 years, and was buried in the Labuan (a small island in Brunei May, off the coast of north-west Borneo) War Cemetery, Malasia.  He died while being held a prisoner-of-war in Kuching Camp, Sarawak, Borneo, where he had been held for three and a half years.  He left a widow, Kathleen May GREENWOOD, living at Brockley, London.

HIBBINS, Arthur Ronald

Private – 14747241

1/5th Bn. Royal Welch Regt.

second son of Benjamin William & Fanny HIBBINS of 54 The Avenue, Ramsey, enlisted on 20th April 1944, and proceeded overseas on 29th November.  He was killed in action on the Western European Front on Friday, 2nd March 1945, aged 19 years, and was buried in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, near Kleve, Germany.

HODSON, Bernard Thomas

Private – 5829998

1st Bn. Cambridgeshire Regt, Suffolk Regt.

eldest son of George William & Nellie HODSON of Newtons Farm, Warboys Fen, died on Saturday, 24th January 1942, aged 22 years, and is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial, which stands in Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore.  After leaving Ramsey Grammar School, he was employed by Messrs. MAULE, Son & WINTER, Solicitors, of Huntingdon.     [Not on Ramsey memorial;  on Ramsey Grammar School memorial & Warboys memorial]

HODSON, Cyril Taylor

Private – 14839861

Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers,   Royal Army Ordnance Corps.

born 23rd September 1908, the second son of Charles & Elizabeth (nee TAYLOR) HODSON of Great Whyte, Ramsey, and later of Manea, Cambs, died on Sunday, 30th December 1945, aged 37 years, and was buried in the Tel El Kebir War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt. He was killed in a road accident while on active service in Palestine, where he was serving as a Private in the R.A.O.C., attached to the 6th Airborne Division.  He left a widow, Doris Susan HODSON, living at Ramsey.  Before joining the Army he had been employed as the manager of the local branch of the London Central Meat Co. 

HOW, Geoffrey Arthur James

Cadet/Apprentice

S.S. LLANDILO (London), Merchant Navy.

eldest son of Beatrice Julia (nee BRIDGFOOT) & the late James Francis HOW, of 24 Great Whyte, Ramsey.  He was reported missing at sea and presumed to have died on Monday, 2nd November 1942, aged 18 years, and his name appears on the Tower Hill Memorial (which  commemorates those men of the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets who have no known graves), in the Trinity Square Pleasure Garden, Tower Hill, London.  [Also on Ramsey Grammar School memorial]

INGLE, Douglas Herbert

Trooper – 7931772

7th Queen’s Own Hussars, Royal Armoured Corps

born on 8th July 1920, only son of Herbert INGLE, a postman in Ramsey for many years, & Ethel May INGLE of 1 Field Terrace, Ramsey, attended Ramsey Grammar School from 1931-37, passed the School Certificate – reaching credit standard in four subjects.  On leaving school, he entered the service of the L.N.E.R. as a clerk, starting at Ramsey St. Marys, and later at Holme, Littleworth & Ramsey.  Called up for service in January 1941, he passed tests in driving, maintenance and wireless, and little more than six months later was drafted to the Libyan area and then to northern Borneo.  He died of wounds received in action whilst serving with the 7th Hussars in the Indian theatre of war on Wednesday, 1st April 1942, aged 21 years, and is commemorated on the Rangoon Memorial, situated in the Taukkyan War Cemetery, Myanmar (Burma).      [Also on Ramsey Grammar School memorial] 

JOHNSON, Ronald Robert

Private – 5835126

70th Bn. Suffolk Regt.

born 19th January 1922, only son of Harold & Annie JOHNSON of the Council Houses, Hern Road, Ramsey St. Mary’s, was killed (by accidental shooting) while on duty on Thursday, 3rd July 1941, aged 19 years.  A member of the Salvation Army, the first part of his funeral service took place at his parents’ home, and was led by Capt. BOOTH, assisted by Major WOODS & Capt. Lily BEARD, both of Peterborough, followed by a service and interment at Pondersbridge.  He had been attached to a training reserve battalion, having volunteered in September 1940, previous to which he had been a member of the Home Guard of which his father was a sergeant.  In civilian life he had been employed by Mr. Arthur Cyril BRIDGFOOT.     [Also on Ramsey St. Marys memorial]

KNOWLES, Edward Vincent

Wing Commander – 32126

D.F.C., B.A., Mus.B., A.R.C.M., A.T.C.I. –

296 Sqdn. Royal Air Force.

a native of Cumberland, only son of Joseph KNOWLES, headmaster of Warboys Council School, & the late Mrs. Martha KNOWLES of Heath Road, Warboys, was killed on active service on Sunday, 23rd August 1942, aged 32 years, and was buried in the Andreas (St. Andrew) Churchyard, Isle of Man.  He left a widow Gladys (nee EKINS) KNOWLES, and a nine year old daughter.  He gained a scholarship to Ramsey Grammar School, went to Cambridge University, & then joined the R.A.F. in 1931.  Holder of the D.F.C., participant in 24 bombing raids over Germany and enemy-occupied territory, C.O. of a fighter squadron of Hurricanes, captain of a heavy bomber, and a collaborator in Commando raids – these are some of the highlights of ‘Teddy’ KNOWLES’ 11½ years as an officer of the R.A.F.    [Not on Ramsey memorial;  on Ramsey Grammar School, Huntingdon Grammar School & Warboys memorials]

MISSELDINE, Jack

Sergeant/Flight Engineer – 573564

149 Sqdn. Royal Air Force.

son of Joseph & Emily MISSELDINE of The Cross, Warboys, died on Friday, 12th March 1943, aged 21 years, and was buried in the Bergh (Beek) Roman Catholic Churchyard, about 14 miles from Arnham, the Netherlands.      [Not on Ramsey memorial;  on Ramsey Grammar School & Warboys memorials]

NEWTON, Charles Steven

Sergeant/Air Gunner – 1802894

Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

youngest son of Ernest Alfred & May NEWTON of the Limes, Benwick Road, Ramsey Fortyfoot, was killed in a flying accident while on active service somewhere in England on Sunday, 8th August 1943, aged 33 years, and was buried in the Halton (St. Michael) Churchyard, Bucks.  He left a widow Mary Elizabeth Alice NEWTON of Abergavenny, Monmouthshire.      [Not on Ramsey memorial]

NORFIELD, Oliver George

Gunner – 1104633

135 (The Hertfordshire Yeomanry) Field Regt, Royal Artillery.

eldest son of Oliver & Daisy May (nee SMITH) NORFIELD of 49 Council Houses, Ramsey St. Mary’s, died on Wednesday, 11th February 1942, aged 22 years, and his grave is in the Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore.  Before joining the Army in November 1940, he was employed by Mr. C. BRIDGFOOT of Pondersbridge.     [Also on Ramsey St. Marys memorial]

OLDHAM, Donald Curzon (Bill)

2nd Lieutenant – 162078

1st Bn. Rifle Brigade.

 

only child of the Rev. Gordon Miles Staveley OLDHAM O.B.E, M.A. and Mrs. Hilda Georgina Susan OLDHAM of The Vicarage, Ramsey, died of wounds received while on active service in the Middle East on Wednesday, 9th September 1942, aged 21 years, and was buried in the Heliopolis War Cemetery, Cairo, Egypt.  Born in April 1921, he was educated at Highfield School, Liphook, Shrewsbury School, and finally for one year at Hertford College, Oxford.  In July 1940 he enlisted as a private in the Essex Regt. and one month later became a sergeant, in the autumn of the same year he was posted to an O.C.T.U.and in December  was granted a commission in the Rifle Brigade.  After a period of training, Lt. OLDHAM volunteered for foreign service and in March 1941 sailed for the Middle East, and following active service in Libya, was made a Temporary Instructor at the Base School of Instruction, ultimately being offered an Instructorship at that School, with the rank of captain.  However, he preferred to go back to the Rifle Brigade as a 2nd Lieutenant.

PALMER, Edward Bartle

Sergeant – 743071

105 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.

son of Maurice Wheals & Ada Emma PALMER, died on Monday 9th September 1940, aged 27 years, and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, which overlooks the River Thames on Cooper’s Hill at Englefield Green, Surrey.  He left a widow Helen Adeline PALMER of Armagh, Northern Ireland.      [Not on Ramsey memorial;  on Westminster Abbey ‘Battle of Britain’ Memorial]

 

PALMER, Ernest Alfred

Sergeant – 6630707

2/7th Bn. Middlesex Regt.

of Ramsey, son of Frederick & Bertha PALMER, had been with an Infantry Regt. in Italy for fourteen months when he died of wounds on Wednesday, 31st May 1944, aged 37 years, and was buried in the Beach Head War Cemetery, Anzio, Italy.  He joined up a few days before War broke out, was sent to France at the end of September 1939, and went through the evacuation of Dunkirk.  During the Anzio beach-head landing he was taken prisoner, but escaped and sustained only a slight head wound.  Besides his widow Ruth (nee ALLEN) PALMER, he also left a daughter Jean, living at 17 Newtown Road, Ramsey.  Before joining the Army, he was employed in H.M. Stationery Office in London. 

PALMER, John Harold Tearle

Flight Lieutenant – 42020

82 Sqdn. Royal Air Force.

 

born 31st October 1919, eldest son of John Harold Tearle & Constance Pauline (nee BUTLER) PALMER of The Hawthorns, Great Whyte, Ramsey, was educated first at Ramsey Grammar School and later at The Kings School, Peterborough.  On leaving school at eighteen, he decided to take up flying as a career, and in March 1939 took a short service (four years) commission in the R.A.F.  His plane crashed whilst on operations over Belgium in July 1940, and he was badly burned and suffered from concussion & shock.  He was in the Edith Cavill Hospital, Belgium, for a time, and was then moved to a camp in Germany where he spent his 21st, 22nd and 23rd birthdays.  He died of an illness contracted while in a German Hospital Camp, on Sunday, 6th December 1942, aged 23 years, and his grave is in the Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery, Brandenburg, Germany.     [Also on Ramsey Grammar School & Westminster Abbey ‘Battle of Britain’ memorials]

PAPWORTH, Andrew

Private – 5889575

5th Bn. Northamptonshire Regt.

second son of Mr. & Mrs. Andrew PAPWORTH of Witcham, near Ely, was killed in action on Tuesday, 16th May 1944, aged about 28 years, and was buried in the Cassino War Cemetery, in the Province of Frosinone, Italy.  Besides the widow Alice Florence (nee RICHARDSON) PAPWORTH, he also left a two years old son.

PAPWORTH, Arthur

Private – 5885217

2nd Bn. Lincolnshire Regt.

fourth son of Walter & Louisa PAPWORTH of 20 Council Houses, Ramsey Mereside, died of wounds received when he was bayoneted in hand to hand fighting at Le Havre, France, leaving a widow Joyce PAPWORTH.  He died on Monday, 7th August 1944, aged 23 years, and his grave is in the Vaudry Churchyard, Calvados, France.  He was one of 51 British soldiers (14 of them from the Lincolnshire Regt), fighting to free the little village of Vaudry in northern France, two months after the Allied invasion.

PEDLEY, Thomas William

Private/Driver – 2338583

Royal Corps of Signals.

son of the late Thomas & Louisa Ann (nee ROSE) PEDLEY of Ramsey Fortyfoot, was educated at Ramsey Grammar School.  He married Hilda SETCHELL at Pondersbridge on 6 May 1936, but his wife and infant daughter both died in January 1937.  After the death of his wife, he went to live at Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, and previous to joining the Army was employed by MANN, EGERTON & Co. Ltd, as a tractor service representative.  On 26th August 1939, he married Margaret (Peggy) CLARK but within a week was called up as a Reservist of the Royal Corps of Signals and was very soon drafted to France, being eventually evacuated from Dunkirk.  About three weeks before his death, when he was due to come home on leave, he was removed to hospital at Bath where he died of pneumonia on Tuesday, 10th September 1940, aged about 32 years, and was buried in Bury St. Edmunds cemetery.     [Also on Ramsey Grammar School memorial]

PEPPERCORN, Donald Henry James

Aircraftman 1st Class - 1189709

Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

born 13 February 1913 at Wennington, Abbots Ripton, third son of Henry James & Jane Louisa PEPPERCORN of 25 Council Houses, Ramsey Mereside, was killed in action at sea on Saturday, 5th July 1941, and his name is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, which overlooks the River Thames, at Englefield Green, Surrey.  He had left England earlier in the year for the Middle East.  He left a widow living at Coronation Avenue, Whittlesey, he had only been married for two years.  Mr. & Mrs. PEPPERCORN had four other sons serving in H.M. Forces.    [Also on Whittlesey memorial]

PICKARD, Horace Arthur

Private – 5830934

5th Bn. Suffolk Regt.

born 9th May 1919, youngest son of Harriet Elizabeth (nee JACKSON) PICKARD & the late William PICKARD of Palmers Bridge, Ramsey St. Mary’s, was killed in action on Sunday, 15th February 1942, aged 22 years, and his grave is in the Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore.  He had gone out as a stretcher-bearer to bring in a wounded comrade when he was killed.  He left a widow Marjorie Joan (nee DAY) PICKARD, to whom he had only been married for eight months, living at 88 Great Whyte, Ramsey.    [Also on Ramsey St. Marys memorial]

ROOK, Cecil

Able Seaman – C/JX.301352

His Majesty’s Motor Torpedo Boat 671, Royal Navy.

born at Stamford, Lincs, son of George & Lily ROOK of Mere Farm, Ramsey Fortyfoot, was killed in action at sea on Monday, 24th April 1944, aged 20 years, and was buried in the Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery, Gosport, Hants, with full military honours. 

 

ROSHER, Eric

Sergeant – 1054385

No. 1 (South African Air Force) Sqdn, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.

born 19th May 1915, son of Edwin & Elizabeth Ann (nee TILLEY) ROSHER of 106 High Street, Ramsey, who was on the ground staff of his squadron, died as the result of gunshot wounds on Wednesday, 23rd February 1944 in Italy, aged 28 years, and was buried in the Sangro River War Cemetery in the Province of Chieti, Italy.  He had volunteered for the R.A.F. and had been in the service for nearly four years.  A month before he died he was one of 44 men presented with the “African Star with Clasp” for his part in keeping the famous South African fighter squadron operating against the enemy all the way from the Western Desert to Italy.  Before joining the R.A.F. he had been employed as a warehouse clerk on the staff of Messrs. CHIVERS & Sons Ltd. at Huntingdon, having joined the firm in 1933.  He left a widowed mother, a brother, Staff Sergt. Sidney Edwin ROSHER, and three sisters.      [Also on Ramsey Grammar School memorial]

RULE, Stanley

Private – 14596928

North Staffordshire Regt.

third son of Joseph & Elizabeth RULE of Avondale, New Road, Ramsey, was accidently drowned, while on active service, in the River Severn at Shrewsbury, Shropshire, on Wednesday, 25th August 1943, aged 35 years.  The funeral service took place at the Ramsey Salem Chapel, followed by interment in Ramsey Cemetery.  He had only joined the Army on 5th May of the same year, and was due to come home for his first leave on 28th August.  After leaving the Ramsey Council School, he served his apprenticeship with Mr. George SWEARER, carpenter and undertaker, and later worked for firms in Peterborough and London.       [Added to Ramsey memorial]

SERJEANT, John

Captain – 130430

Royal Norfolk Regt, attd. 1st Bn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

youngest son of Winifred Louisa Dumella (nee BATEMAN) and the late Frederick Mawdesley SERJEANT of Biggin Lane, Ramsey, was killed in action in Burma on Wednesday, 24th May 1944, aged 29 years, and his grave is in the Taukkyan War Cemetery, Myanmar (Burma).  Educated at Wellingborough School, Northants, in 1938 he qualified as a solicitor and for a time practised at Ipswich, and he was due to join his brother, Mr. Frederick Robert Mawdesley SERJEANT, in the family firm of SERJEANT & Son (Solicitors) at Ramsey, on the day he was demobilized.  Captain SERJEANT was with the Royal Norfolk Regt. attached to the Cameronians at the time of his death, having served overseas since April 1942.  His brother Major James SERJEANT was serving in Italy.

SHEPPERSON, Geoffrey

 Cadet/Apprentice

S.S. CLARISSA RATCLIFFE (London), Merchant Navy.

 

second son of Jack & Kate (nee GREENWOOD) SHEPPERSON of Royston, School Lane, Ramsey, was educated at Ramsey Grammar School and later at The Kings School, Peterborough.  When he was seventeen years old, he joined the Merchant Navy and was a member of the crew of the 28-year-old S.S. CLARISSA RATCLIFFE, a merchant ship belonging to the Evans Thomas Ratcliffe Company.  In March 1943, one month before his eighteenth birthday, and on his second trip across the Atlantic, the S.S. CLARISSA RATCLIFFE, carrying a load of iron ore and a crew of 41 with 10 gunners, was torpedoed and sunk off Nova Scotia by a German submarine, the U.663 – there were no survivors.  On it’s return journey to Breast, the U.663 was sunk in the Bay of Biscay.  He died on Tuesday, 9th March 1943, aged 17 years, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, which stands on the south side of the garden in Trinity Square, close to the Tower of London, London.  His brother was a physical training instructor with the R.A.F.  [Also on Ramsey Grammar School memorial & the Kings School memorial in Peterborough Cathedral 

SMITH, Ellis

Trooper – 5833115

7th. Queen’s Own Hussars, Royal Armoured Corps

second son of Harry & Emma SMITH of Middlemoor, Ramsey St. Mary’s, died of wounds in the Middle East on Tuesday, 4th August 1942, aged 29 years, and his grave is in the Kirkee (also known as the Khadki) War Cemetery, near Poona, India.  He had also been wounded in Libya the previous March.  Mr. & Mrs. SMITH had two other sons.

SMITH, Leslie John

Private/Gunner – 14506530

7 Medium Regt. Royal Artillery, B.L.A.

son of John Alfred & Mabel Gladys SMITH of Ramsey Hollow, died of wounds in a hospital somewhere on the Western European Front on Saturday, 10th March 1945, aged 20 years, and was buried in the Venray War Cemetery, Netherlands.  He was called up on 7th January 1943, and landed in France two days after ‘D-Day’ (8th June 1944), and died shortly after spending eight days leave at home.  The town of Venray had been liberated by Allied troups in October 1944.       [Not on Ramsey memorial]

SMITH, Ronald Arthur

Stoker, 1st Class – R/KX.112207

H.M.S. TONBRIDGE, Royal Navy

of Ramsey, son of John Henry & Mary Ann SMITH of 32 Needingworth Road, St. Ives, formerly employed by the Co-op Society, was killed while on duty on Friday, 22nd August 1941, aged 21 years, and is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire.   [In memoriam – from all at 8 Field Terrace, Ramsey]  [In memoriam – from his aunt & family, Bury Road, Ramsey]  [Not on Ramsey memorial;  on St. Ives memorial]

SNEESBY, Ernest Allen

Private – 5828753

1st Bn. Cambridgeshire Regt,  Suffolk Regt.

son of James & Annie SNEESBY of Four Hundred Drove, Ramsey Fortyfoot, was killed in action on Saturday, 14th February 1942, aged 23 years, and is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial, which stands in the Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore.   [Not on Ramsey memorial;  on Benwick memorial]

 

SPENCER, Raymond

Private – 7758690

1 Field Remount Depot, Royal Army Veterinary Corps

youngest son of Walter & Florence SPENCER of Factory Bank, Ramsey, died from internal injuries, sustained by being thrown from his horse, shortly after being admitted to hospital on Thursday, 14th October 1943, aged 21 years, and his grave is in the Beirut War Cemetery, the Lebanese Republic.  He joined the Royal Army Veterinary Corps on Thursday, 12th March 1942, and was serving in the Middle East.

SPENCER, Victor George

Able Seaman – P/JX.523942

H.M.S. VICTORY, Royal Navy

died on Saturday, 15th December 1945, aged 20 years, and was buried in Ramsey cemetery.

TAYLOR, James Cyril (Joe)

Private - 5830941

5th Bn. Suffolk Regt.

 

son of Mr. & Mrs. Elisha TAYLOR of Jubilee Yard, Ramsey, who had been taken prisoner at Singapore, died of avitaminosis in a Thailand Camp on Monday, 23rd August 1943, aged 24 years, and was buried in the Chungkai War Cemetery, Thailand.  Chungkai was one of the base camps on the Burma – Siam railway, and contained a hospital and church built by Allied prisoners-of-war.  The War Cemetery is the original burial ground started by the prisoners themselves, and those who rest there are mostly men who died in the hospital.  He left a widow Mrs. Sylvia (nee DRING) TAYLOR who he married at Warboys, just one week prior to being called up, living at Station Road, Warboys.  His brother, Pte. Albert Charles TAYLOR of the Essex Regt., had been a prisoner-of-war in ‘Italy & Germany’ and was released just prior to V.E. Day.    [Also on Warboys memorial]

TAYLOR, Raymond Victor

Private – 14227043

2nd Bn. Devonshire Regt.

son of George & Agnes (nee STOKES) TAYLOR of 38 The Avenue, Ramsey, died of diptheria in a U.S. hospital on Thursday, 3rd May 1945, aged about 33 years, after being held a prisoner-of-war since October 1944, and his grave is in the Overloon War Cemetery, the Netherlands.  Before joining up in July 1942, he had been employed as a builder by Mr. Ernest SHEPPERSON of Great Whyte, Ramsey.  He left a widow Annie Elizabeth (nee PARKER) TAYLOR and a young daughter Mavis, living at Ramsey Hollow.

TINKLER, Owen

Private – 5827756

1st Bn. Cambridgeshire Regt, Suffolk Regt.

son of Jabez & Elizabeth TINKLER of New Cottage, The Toll, near Benwick, was a prisoner-of-war in Japanese hands at Tarso, Thailand, when he died of dysentry on Friday, 31st December 1943, aged 24 years, and was buried in the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, Thailand.  This cemetery is only a short distance from the site of the former ‘Kanburi’ prisoner-of-war Base Camp, through which passed most of the prisoners on their way to other camps, and it is the largest of the three war cemeteries on the notorious Burma-Siam railway.

WHITAKER, William Butle

Flying Officer/Navigator – 130596

Royal Air Force  (Volunteer Reserve)

youngest son of John William & Ellen Isadore (nee BUTLER) WHITAKER of Ramsey, later of Fishponds, Glos, was killed in action on Sunday, 23rd May 1943, aged 22 years, and interred in the Markelo General Cemetery, Holland.     [Added to Ramsey memorial]

WHITEHEAD, Edwin

Sergeant – 920681

135 (The Hertfordshire Yeomanry) Field Regt, Royal Artillery.

son of Herbert John & Alice Elizabeth (nee TURNER) WHITEHEAD of Yaxley, was killed in action on Monday, 26th January 1942, aged 21 years, and is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial, which stands in the Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore.     [Not on Ramsey memorial;  on Ramsey Grammar School & Yaxley memorials]

WILLIS, Peter James Ailwyn

Second Radio Officer

S.S. ROWANBANK (Glasgow), Merchant Navy.

born 24th July 1922, son of John & Marion WILLIS of the School House, Ramsey Fortyfoot, died when the ship on which he was serving was sunk on Friday, 31st January 1941, aged 18 years, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, in the garden of Trinity Square, London.  The 5,159 ton ROWANBANK, owned by Bank Line Ltd. was bombed and sunk some 1,100 miles from Merignac (near Bordeaux, France), en route from Lourence Marques (on the south coast of Mozambique, South Africa), to Oban, Scotland, and all her crew of 68 were lost – it was one of eight vessels sunk in January 1941 by Focke Wulf 200 Kondor (German) aircraft in the Western Approaches..  Mr. & Mrs. WILLIS’ other son Tom WILLIS was serving with the Royal Navy.    [Also on Ramsey Grammar School memorial]

WILSON, Francis Victor

Private – 5827782

1st Bn. Cambridgeshire Regt, Suffolk Regt.

born 27th December 1918, youngest son of Charles & Mary Ann (nee WHITE) WILSON of 70 The Avenue, Ramsey, died at sea while a prisoner-of-war in Japanese hands in Thailand on Thursday, 21st September 1944, aged 25 years, and is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial, which stands in the Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore.  He was taken prisoner at Singapore, and worked in No. 1 (Prison) Camp, Thailand.

WILSON, John William

Private/Driver – T/49644

Royal Army Service Corps.

born 5th October 1904, eldest son of Charles & Mary Ann WILSON of 70 The Avenue, Ramsey, was mobilised on 2nd September and died twelve days later at Aldershot, on Thursday night, 14th September 1939, aged 35 years, and was buried in Ramsey Cemetery.  He had just posted a letter to his wife when his motorcycle was involved in an accident with a lorry that was on the wrong side of the road, killing him instantly.  A claim for damages for negligence was settled on his widow in May 1940.  Besides the widow Ivy (nee BAILEY) WILSON, he left seven children aged between six months to fourteen years, living at 20 West Avenue, Ramsey.  Before being called-up as a reservist, he had been employed as an M.T. driver at the R.A.F. Station, Upwood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Link to W.W. I names on Ramsey War Memorial.

Link to Ramsey War Memorial.                         

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12/07/2017

. . © Joan Whitwell and Martyn Smith.