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'WHEN YOU GO HOME, TELL THEM OF US, AND SAY,
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'WHEN YOU GO HOME, TELL THEM OF US, AND SAY,
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Memorial Gates in memory of those died on active service 1939-45These wrought iron War Memorial Gates were erected in December 1951 at the entrance to Soham Grammar School's playing field in memory of those died on active service 1939-45. They were dedicated on 18th July 1952.
They now stand half way up the old drive from Sand Street. Until 1971 on the Friday before Remembrance Sunday there was a ceremony of gratitude culminating in the planting of a field of poppies.
For the Dedication of the WWI Memorial Plaque in the Old Grammar School (later relocated to Beechurst) please click on WWI Dedication.
For the Roll of Soham Grammarians who fell in the First World War please click on WWI Roll (an external site). For those who have died in the Armed Forces since WW2, please click on Post WW2.Book of Remembrance
The names below are taken from the Book of Remembrance of those Soham Grammarians who fell in the Second World War.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has an excellent on-line Debt of Honour database, in which the names have been researched. In some cases, stated as possibly, there is more than one casualty of the same name and if none have a next of kin address it is not clear which is the one in our Book. Age, where available, has been used to select the most likely. If you can confirm or correct the information below, please contact the editor.
Cemetery or memorial information is provided via links to the CWGC website. If reference is made to a memorial rather than to a grave this is because there is no known grave. In some cases, especially aircrew, burials are in a collective or joint grave where it has not been possible to provide a grave for an individual with any certainty.
EDGAR JAMES ANDREWS (1929-35)
possibly EDGAR JAMES ANDREWS
Sergeant 745535, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
50 Sqdn. Royal Air Force
who died on Tuesday 15 October 1940.
Son of Edward James Andrews and of Annie Elizabeth Andrews (née Blake).
BERLIN 1939-1945 WAR CEMETERY, Berlin, Germany: Grave 9. E. 12.
ARTHUR LESLIE BRADSHAW (1931-39)
Sergeant 1182378, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
150 Sqdn. Royal Air Force
who died on Wednesday 22 October 1941. Age 19.
Son of Arthur and Mabel Bradshaw, of Sutton, Cambridgeshire.
DURNBACH WAR CEMETERY, Bad Tolz, Bayern, Germany: Grave 5. C. 11.CHARLES RAYMOND CARTER (1926-31)
Private 5933312
1st Bn., Cambridgeshire Regiment
who died on Monday 9 August 1943. Age 28.
Son of Henry and Helen Margaret Carter, of Chippenham, Cambridgeshire.
KANCHANABURI WAR CEMETERY, Thailand : Grave 2. H. 60.KENNETH FREDERICK CLARKE (1930-35)
Private 5827592
8th Bn., Suffolk Regiment
who died on Wednesday 25 December 1940. Age 22.
Son of Frederick William and Henrietta Clarke, of Isleham.
ISLEHAM CEMETERY, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom: Grave 304.SYDNEY WALTER CORNWELL (1929-1934)
Corporal T/92917
57 Inf. Bde. Coy., Royal Army Service Corps
who died on Wednesday 18 August 1943. Age 25.
Son of Lewis and Susan E. Cornwell, of Isleham, Cambridgeshire; husband of Bertha Beatrice Cornwell, of Tilney-all-Saints, Norfolk.
MEDJEZ-EL-BAB WAR CEMETERY, Tunisia: Grave 7. B. 5.FREDERICK JAMES FIELD (1927-32)
Sergeant 535052, Pilot, Royal Air Force
12 Sqdn. Royal Air Force
who died on Friday 7 June 1940. Age 24.
Son of Frederick Charles and Meta Field, of Newmarket, Suffolk.
ST. VALERY-EN-CAUX FRANCO-BRITISH CEMETERY, Seine-Maritime, France: Collective. Grave A, 24-26.
EDWARD GEORGE FRETWELL (1934-39)
Sergeant 1624918, Air Bomber Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
178 Sqdn. Royal Air Force
who died on Tuesday 15 August 1944. Age 21.
Son of Samuel and Amy Hilda Fretwell, of Stuntney, Cambridgeshire.
KRAKOW RAKOWICKI CEMETERY, Poland: Grave 1. D. 8.
WILLIAM DICK HAWKES (1928-31)
Pilot Officer (Pilot) 145836, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
207 Sqdn. Royal Air Force
who died on 13 May 1943. Age 26.
Son of Charles Peter and Ethel May Hawkes, of Swaffham Prior, Cambridgeshire.
AMERSFOORT (OUD LEUSDEN) GENERAL CEMETERY: Plot 13. Row 6. Grave 109.
Shire Hall Cambridge Roll of Honour
see also A Bent Sixpence
FRED HOCKLEY (1934-40)
Sub-Lieutenant (A): Pilot, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
HMS Indefatigable
who died on Wednesday 15 August 1945. Age 22.
Son of George and Hannah Rebecca Hockley, of Littleport
YOKOHAMA WAR CEMETERY, Japan British Section: Grave P.A.6HAROLD BOTHA HOW (1926-28)
Bandsman 5824848
1st Bn., Suffolk Regiment
who died on Saturday 1 June 1940.
FRECKENHAM (ST. ANDREW) CHURCHYARD, Suffolk, United Kingdom: no grave information or cemetery description providedKEITH ALAN JOHNSON (1930-35)
Flight Sergeant 1150168, W.Op./Air Gnr. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
420 (R.C.A.F.) Sqdn. Royal Air Force
who died on Wednesday 15 April 1942. Age 22.
Husband of Joan Johnson (née Smart), of Fordham.
FORDHAM (SS. PETER AND MARY MAGDALENE) CHURCHYARD EXTENSION, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom: no Grave reference provided. This is opposite the churchyard across the Ely-Mildenhall road. There are 5 Commonwealth burials of the 1914-1918 war and 3 of the 1939-1945 war here.He is listed on the Fordham War Memorial.
It is reported that he was born on June 15, 1919, son of a farmer, Herbert Birt Johnson and school teacher Alice Maria Johnson of Church Street, Fordham. He married Joan Smart in 1941 and was posted to RAF Waddington on 19th December 1941.
On 14 April 1942 his Hampden Bomber crashed shortly after take off following double engine failure. He alone survived the crash but died the next day in hospital. In January 2020 a plaque in memory of the crew was unveiled at North Kesteven Academy, North Hykeham, the present day location of the crash site. Press Report.
ALBERT JAMES JUGG (1936-41)
Sapper 14864716
Royal Engineers
who died on Monday 10 September 1945. Age 19.
Son of Harold James Jugg and Rosetta May Jugg, of Witchford, Cambridgeshire.
KIRKEE WAR CEMETERY, India: Grave 5. F. 1.VICTOR SYDNEY KEY (1931-35)
Sergeant 759103 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
235 Sqdn. Royal Air Force
who died on Sunday 23 March 1941. Age 20.
Son of Charles and Frances Key; husband of Renée Mary Key, of Littleport, Cambridgeshire.
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL, Surrey, United Kingdom: Panel 46.JOHN WILLIAM LAYTON (1923-29)
Sergeant 1202313 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
104 Sqdn. Royal Air Force
who died on Thursday 19 November 1942.
CATANIA WAR CEMETERY, SICILY, Italy: Joint grave I. F. 26-27.
JOHN BEDFORD NORMAN (1930-39)
Flight Sergeant 1208527 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
27 Sqdn. Royal Air Force
who died on Monday 17 May 1943. Age 23.
Son of Arthur and Marjorie A. Norman, of Haddenham, Cambridgeshire.
MAYNAMATI WAR CEMETERY, Bangladesh: Grave 4. A. 15.DONALD PALMER (1925-30)
Lance Corporal 5834741
142nd (7th Bn. The Suffolk Regt.) Regt., Royal Armoured Corps
who died on Sunday 21 February 1943. Age 29.
Son of George and Lillie Palmer; husband of Ivy Florence Palmer, of Fordham. Cambridgeshire.
MEDJEZ-EL-BAB MEMORIAL, Tunisia: Face 6.ERIC ARTHUR PALMER (1931-33)
Sub-Lieutenant Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
H.M.S. Holcombe,
who died on Sunday 12 December 1943. Age 24.
Son of Reginald and Muriel K. Palmer, of Mildenhall, Suffolk.
PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL, Hampshire, United Kingdom: Panel 80, Column 1.LESLIE THOMAS PARTRIDGE (1930-33)
Private 5830889
5th Bn., Suffolk Regiment
who died on Saturday 7 August 1943. Age 24.
Son of Henry and Henrietta Marion Partridge, of Wilburton, Cambridgeshire.
SINGAPORE MEMORIAL, Singapore: Column 56.GEORGE WILLIAM PAYTON (1931-37)
Pilot Officer 100795 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
who died on Tuesday 19 August 1941. Age 20.
Son of George Robertson Payton and Elsie May Payton, of Ely, Cambridgeshire. His brother Ronald also died on service.
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL, Surrey, United Kingdom: Panel 34.STANLEY PLUMB (1925-31)
Trooper 7912234
7th Queen's Own Hussars, R.A.C.
who died on Saturday 7 March 1942. Age 27.
Son of James and Sarah Elizabeth Plumb, husband of Beatrice May Plumb, of Soham, Cambridgeshire.
RANGOON MEMORIAL, Myanmar: Face 1.
EDGAR HENRY READER (1934-38)
Sergeant 1331432 W.Op./Air Gnr. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
75 Sqdn. Royal Air Force
who died on Wednesday 23 June 1943. Age 21.
Son of Henry John and Ethel May Reader, of Fordham, Cambridgeshire.
REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY, Kleve, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany: Grave 19. G. 3.WILLIAM JAMES STEGGLES (1922-29)
Gunner 1601985
attd. 2nd Bn., Dorsetshire Regiment
who died on Thursday 15 March 1945. Age 34.
Son of Charles and Laura Steggles, of Soham, Cambridgeshire.
TAUKKYAN WAR CEMETERY Myanmar: Grave 19. A. 11.
KENNETH REGINALD TURNER (1934-39)
Flight Sergeant 591870 Royal Air Force
55 Sqdn. Royal Air Force
who died on Friday 7 April 1944. Age 21.
Son of Reginald Ernest Willie and Elizabeth Mary Turner.
ASSISI WAR CEMETERY, Italy: Joint grave IV, E, 9-10.DUNCAN FRANK WRIGHT (1932-35)
Staff Serjeant 1509818
1st Wing, Glider Pilot Regiment, A.A.C.
who died on Tuesday 6 June 1944. Age 25.
Son of Russell and Elsie Wright; husband of Mary Wright.
RANVILLE WAR CEMETERY, Calvados, France: Grave IIIA. B. 2.Captain John Max, before the invasion, urged soldiers not to talk about any aspect of their training. "A wise old Owl - perched in an oak, The more he saw - the less he spoke, The less he spoke - the more he heard, Oh SOLDIER - imitate that bird!!". Captain Max was GSO-3 (Intelligence) to Divisional HQ. He was killed on the 6th June when his glider crashed to the east of the River Dives in the grounds of the Chateau de Grangues. A source reports that the other men in the glider survived and were taken prisoner, however one of the glider pilots, Barry Powell, died on impact, and the other pilot, Duncan Wright, was murdered by soldiers of the 711th Division, together with the seven survivors of a crashed Stirling which was carrying men of the 591st Parachute Squadron and HQ Royal Engineers.
He is named on the British Normandy Memorial which was officially opened on 6 June 2021.
Soham Grammarian Autumn 1951
The eagerly awaited Old Boys' War Memorial, the outcome of a magnificent effort on the part of the School and the Old Boys, has now materialised in the form of wrought iron memorial gates. These have been erected and greatly enhance the beauty of the entrance to the School playing fields. We hope that these gates, commemorating the fallen, will open on to a new and even more successful period of School achievement in the classroom and on the Sports Field.
Soham Grammarian Summer 1952
The Memorial Gates and Railings were erected in December. A few weeks later, during the Christmas holidays, a lady came to look at them. She then placed an order for 500 crocuses with a local seedsman, and asked for them to be delivered to the School for planting around the memorial gates. This was done, and in March the crocuses bloomed and made an entertaining sight. We deeply appreciate this generous gesture and gratefully acknowledge it here. All efforts to find out to whom we are indebted have failed and the lady's name is still unknown to us.
SERVICE
OF
DEDICATION
OF
THE MEMORIAL GATESIN REMEMBRANCE OF THE FORMER PUPILS OF
SOHAM GRAMMAR SCHOOL
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES
1939-1945conducted by The Archdeacon of Ely
The Venerable H. F. Kirkpatrickon Speech Day, Friday, 18th July, 1952
LET US PRAY
Lord have mercy upon us
Christ have mercy upon us
Lord have mercy upon usOUR FATHER, which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.
ALMIGHTY GOD we commend to thy loving kindness the souls of thy servants who died for us. Accept, O Lord, the offering of their self-sacrifice. Grant them thy peace: let light perpetual shine upon them: and in thy loving wisdom and almighty power work in them the good purpose of thy perfect will through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
ALMIGHTY GOD, Father of all mercies and giver of all comfort, deal graciously, we pray thee, with those who mourn their loss this day, that casting every care on thee they may know the consolation of thy abiding love, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
UNTO thy loving kindness, O Lord, we commend all those who are stricken and suffering by reason of the war; the disabled, the blinded, the over-strained, the homeless and the oppressed; all whose faith in thee has been shaken by what they have seen and suffered. Strengthen them, O God, with thy Holy Spirit and give them courage and hope for the sake of him who bore for us the pain and desolation of the cross, thy Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Then the Headmaster shall read the Names, saying:-
Let us remember before God the old boys of this School who gave their lives for their country
EDGAR JAMES ANDREWS
ARTHUR LESLIE BRADSHAW
KENNETH FREDERICK CLARKE
SIDNEY WALTER CORNWELL
FREDERICK JAMES FIELD
EDWARD GEORGE FRETWELL
WILLIAM DICK HAWKES
FRED HOCKLEY
HAROLD BOTHA HOW
KEITH ALAN JOHNSON
ALBERT JAMES JUGG
VICTOR SIDNEY KEY
JOHN WILLIAM LAYTON
JOHN BEDFORD NORMAN
DONALD PALMER
ERIC ARTHUR PALMER
GEORGE WILLIAM PAYTON
EDGAR HENRY READER
WILLIAM JAMES STEGGLES
KENNETH REGINALD TURNER
DUNCAN FRANK WRIGHT
the plaque on the Memorial Gates, taken 4 Oct 2003They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old,
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn,
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.Response by all: We will remember them.
THE DEDICATION
In the Faith of Jesus Christ we dedicate this memorial: to the glory of God and in honour of the former pupils of this School who gave their lives in the war : in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
LET US PRAY
ALMIGHTY GOD, from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed, kindle, we pray thee, in the hearts of all men the true love of peace, and guide with thy pure and peaceable wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth; that in tranquillity thy kingdom may go forward till the earth is filled with the knowledge of thy love, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O ETERNAL LORD GOD, who holdest all souls in life: we beseech thee to shed forth upon thy whole family in Paradise and on earth, the bright beams of thy light and heavenly comfort; and grant that we, following the example of those who have loved and served thee here, and are now at rest, may at the last enter with them into the fulness of thine unending joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE BLESSING
Soham Village College page on those who died
Names provided by Mike Rouse: research by editor Frank Haslam
Dedication Order of Service from Peter Roe (1946)
Page last updated 8 Nov 11: 18 Nov 17: 27 Jan 20: 11 Jun 21
If you wish to comment about this page please email or write to Frank Haslam - see the Contact Us page.
