ELSTOW
WAR MEMORIAL
World War 1 & 2 - Roll of Honour with detailed
information
Compiled and copyright © 2001 Martin Edwards
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The
war memorial sits in the grounds of the Old Elstow School at School
House, High Street, Elstow. It is made from Cornish granite and takes
the form of a truncated pillar that is topped with a pediment resting
on a three stepped base and plinth. There are 11 names for World War
1 and 3 for World War 2. The memorial was unveiled by Mr S Howard Whitbread
and dedicated by local clergymen and dignitaries 20 November 1919. The
memorial cost £150 and these monies were raised by public subscription.
The mason was Mr G Carroll. Detailed appeared in the Bedfordshire Times
& Independent 21 November 1919. The memorial was cleaned and the
letters of the fallen repainted by an expert at the end of 20202/start
of 2021.
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| Photographs
Copyright © Jon
Miles 2021 |
IN
GRATEFUL MEMORY
OF THESE
MEN OF ELSTOW
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES TO
PRESERVE OUR LIBERTIES
IN THE GREAT WARS
| 1914-1918 |
|
BLAIN |
Stanley Amos |
Sapper 522737, 7th Division, Signal Company, Corps of
Royal Engineers. Died of wounds Wednesday, 3rd October
1917 in France & Flanders. Aged 23. Born 3 July 1894 and resident
Elstow, enlisted Bedford. Son of George and Elizabeth Blain, of
Elstow, Bedford. In the 1911 census he was aged 16, an apprentice
bricklayer, son of George and Elizabeth M Blain, born Bedford, resident
The Lane, Elstow, Bedford. Birth registered in the July to September
Quarter 1894 in the Bedford Registration District. Embarked for
France 22 April 1917. His effects went to Mr G W Blain, of West
End, Elstow. Formerly 2361, Royal Engineers (Territorial). Qualified
bricklayer at attestation. Attending Elstow Board/Lower School,
Elstow in 1898, still there 31 March 1905. Buried in MENIN ROAD
SOUTH MILITARY CEMETERY, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot II.
Row I. Grave 37. See also Bunyan
Meeting, Elstow and Bedford
Bunyan Meeting |
|
BOWLER |
Arthur Charles |
Lance Corporal 27607, 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment.
Died of wounds Friday, 17th November 1916 in France &
Flanders. Aged 20. Born Elstow, enlisted South Farnborough, Hants,
resident Mansfield, Notts. Son of Christopher Ernest and Emily Bowler,
of Bedfordshire. Formerly 8835, Royal Flying Corps. In the 1901
census he was aged 4, son of Christopher Ernest and Emily Bowler,
born Elstow, resident 15 Lord Street, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.
Buried in CONTAY BRITISH CEMETERY, CONTAY, Somme, France. Plot VIII.
Row B. Grave 28. See also Bunyan
Meeting, Elstow and Bedford
Bunyan Meeting |
|
BOWLER |
Ernest Webb |
Private 13337, 48th Company, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). Died
Saturday, 26th November 1916 in France & Flanders.
Born Elstow and enlisted Bedford. Formerly 23190, Bedfordshire Regiment.
In the 1901 census he was aged 14, an ordinary farm labourer, son
of John and Mary Ann Bowler, born Elstow, resident Elstow. IN the
1911 census he was aged 24, unmarried, a Timber Merchasnt, born
Elstow, resident Elstow. Buried in BAILLEUL COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
(NORD), Nord, France. Plot III. Row A. Grave 192. See also Bunyan
Meeting, Elstow and Bedford
Bunyan Meeting |
|
BYGRAVE |
Ernest Herbert |
Private 3/6410, 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment.
Killed in action Saturday, 7th November 1914 in France
& Flanders. Aged 23. Born Stotfold, enlisted Clifton. Son of
William Bygrave, of Folly Rd., Stotfold, Baldock, Herts; husband
of Edith Blanche Bygrave, of The Elms, Elstow, Bedford. Went to
France 19 September 1914. Regular Soldier. In the 1891 census he
is a grandson of Frederick and Emma Rowland, son of Sarah Bygraves,
aged 9 months, born Stotfold, resident Little London, Stotfold.
Commemorated on LE TOURET MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Panel
10 and 11 |
|
CAVES |
Joseph Samuel |
Private 203274, 5th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment.
Died at sea Sunday, 30th December 1917. Born and resident
Elstow, enlisted Bedford. Birth registered in the October to December
Quarter 1881 in the Bedford Registration District. In the 1891 census
he was aged 9, a scholar, son of Amos S and Sarah Caves, born Elstow,
resident Elstow. In the 1891 census he was a boarder, aged 19, a
Carter on a Farm, born Elstow, resident Elstow. Commemorated on
CHATBY MEMORIAL, Egypt. See also Bunyan
Meeting, Elstow |
|
CHILLERY |
Richard Frank |
 Lance
Corporal 17776, 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment.
Killed in action Saturday, 25th September 1915 in France
& Flanders. Aged 20. Born and enlisted Bedford, resident Elstow.
Son of F. S. and Hilda Chillery, of Elstow, Bedford. In the 1911
census he was a Farm Labourer, aged 15, son of Fredrick S and Hilda
Chillery, born Bedford, resident Elstow. Birth registered in the
April to June Quarter 1895 in the Bedford Registration District.
Went to France 17 August 1915. Buried in CABARET-ROUGE BRITISH CEMETERY,
SOUCHEZ, Pas de Calais, France. Plot XIII. Row E. Grave 26.
Photograph
Copyright © Mel Gibbs 2014
Extract
from National Roll of Honour 1914-1918 Section .. Bedford and
Northampton, page 47:
| CHILLERY,
R. F., Corpl., 2nd Bedfordshire Regt. |
|
He
volunteered in November 1914, and in the same year proceeded
to the Western Front. There, after taking part in the Battles
of La Bassée and Ypres, he was unhappily killed in
action at Loos on September 25th, 1915. He was entitled
to the 1914 Star, and the General Service and Victory Medals. |
|
"He
died the noblest death a man may die,
Fighting for God and right and liberty.
|
|
Wilstead
Road, Elstow. |
|
X1649
/A. |
|
|
COX |
Arthur |
 Corporal
17425, 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in
action near Beaurains, France, Wednesday, 23rd October
1918 in France & Flanders. Born Goldington, enlisted Bedford,
resident Elstow. Third son of Seth and Annie Cox. In the 1911 census
he is aged 15, son of Seth and Annie Cox, an apprentice. born Bedford,
resident The Lane, Elstow. In the 1901 census he was the son of
Seth and Annie Cox, aged 5, born Bedford, resident St Cuthbert's,
Bedford. Buried in ROMERIES COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, Nord, France.
Plot II. Row D. Grave II. Also commemorated on family grave in Elstow
churchyard. See also Bunyan
Meeting, Elstow |
|
GODDARD |
Joseph Ernest |
[Listed
as Ernest on SDGW] Sergeant 5396, 2nd Battalion, Prince of Wales's
Own (West Yorkshire Regiment). Died of wounds received at Neuve
Chapelle, 12th March 1915. Aged 33. Born Normanton, Yorks, enlisted
Leeds. Son of Joseph Goddard; husband of Hilda Dorothy (nee Draper)
Goddard (native of Elstow), married 1912 in Bedford. Served in
the South African Campaign. In the 1891 census he was aged 10,
born Yorkshire, a scholar, resident with his parents, Joseph and
Eluma Goddard, at Altofts Terrace, Normanton, Wakefield, Yorkshire.
In the 1911 census he was aged 30, born Normanton, Yorkshire,
serving soldier, Sergeant, 1st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment,
unmarried, billeted at Connaught Barracks, Rawal Pindi, Punjab,
India. Buried in BOULOGNE EASTERN CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France.
Plot III. Row D. Grave 7. Also commemorated on his wife's gravestone
in Elstow Churchyard.
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|
GORDON |
Donald George |
Private 33109, 8th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment.
Killed in action Monday, 10th December 1917 in France
& Flanders. Aged 23. Born and resident in Elstow, enlisted Bedford.
Son of George and Sarah Ann (nee King) Gordon, of West End, Elstow.
Formerly 6516, Bedfordshire Regiment. Born 24 August 1894 in Elstow.
Buried in VILLERS-FAUCON COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, Somme, France.
Plot I. Row C. Grave 12. See also Bunyan
Meeting, Elstow |
|
ROBINSON |
Frederick C |
In the 1901 census Frederick Robinson was the son of Arthur and
Mary Ann Robinson, aged 3, born Elstow, resident Elstow. There is
a birth registration for the July to September Quarter 1897 in the
Bedford Registration District for a Frank Robinson.
The
only death appears to be Charles ROBINSON, Pioneer
254886, "A" Corps Signal Company, Royal Engineers. Killed
in action 3 August 1917. Born and resident Elstow, enlisted Bedford.
No known grave. Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, West-Vlaanderen,
Belgium. Panel 9.
See also Bunyan Meeting,
Elstow |
|
WELLS |
James William |
Private 23236, 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed
in action Thursday, 20th July 1916 in France & Flanders.
Born Shefford, enlisted Bedford. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL,
Somme, France. Pier and Face 1 C and 2 A. See also Bunyan
Meeting, Elstow |
| In
church but not on memorial |
|
LEES |
Thomas Prior |
Major,
9th (County of London) Battalion, Queen Victoria’s Rifles.
Killed in action Wednesday, 21st April 1915. Son of Alfred
and Rosa Matilda Lees, of Bedford. Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN
GATE) MEMORIAL, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 54. See also
Bedford Modern School
and Bedford St Peters. Tablet
on the North wall of the church:
TO
THE GLORY OF GOD
AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF
THOMAS PRIOR LEES
MAJOR – QUEEN VICTORIA RIFLES.
SON OF ALFRED AND ROSA LEES.
FELL ON HILL 60 NEAR YPRES
APRIL 21ST, 1915, AGED 41
IMMOTA FIDES |
| 1939-1945 |
|
HALL |
Percival Stanley |
Corporal 2575507, Royal Corps of Signals who killed in action in
Italy on Saturday, 26th August 1944. Aged 29. Born and resident
Bedford. Husband of Emily Lowis Hall, of Elstow. Buried in MONTECCHIO
WAR CEMETERY, Italy. Plot II. Row A. Grave 7. |
|
MELLETT |
Victor James |
Carpenter S.S. River Afton (Glasgow), Merchant Navy who died at
sea on Sunday, 20th September 1942. Aged 36. Son of James Mellett,
and of Elizabeth Ann Mellett, of Elstow. In the 1911 census he was
aged 5, born Eynesbury, Huntingdon, son of James and Elizabeth Ann
Mellet, resident Park Lodge, Aspley Guise, Ridgmont, Bedfordshire.
Commemorated on TOWER HILL MEMORIAL, London. Panel 87. |
|
WELLS |
Leonard |
No further information currently. |
| Not
on memorial but in churchyard.
|
|
WYKES |
Geoffrey Francis |
 Sergeant
(Pilot) 1627761, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died on Tuesday,
25th December 1945. Aged 21. Son of James Martin Wykes and Ruby
Alberta Wykes, of Kennington, Berkshire. Buried in ELSTOW (SS. MARY
AND HELENA) CHURCHYARD. S.E. Corner, grave 775. See also Bedford
Modern School
1627761 Sergeant
G F WYKES
Pilot
Royal Air Force
25th December 1945
Age 21
also his mother Ruby WYKES
died 28th April 1936. Aged 34. |
|
GIBBS, M.C. |
John Neill |
 Major
35487 8th Bn., Parachute Regiment, A.A.C. who died when dropped
into Holland he fell into a dyke and drowned on Sunday, 13th June
1943. Aged 35. Son of Percy and Janet Gibbs; husband of Helena Doreen
Kennett Gibbs, of Bedford. Buried ELSTOW (SS. MARY AND HELENA) CHURCHYARD
east of Church.
Major J N GIBBS, M.C.
Parachute Regiment
Army Air Corps
13th June 1943
Age 35 |
ERECTED BY THE PARISHIONERS
Last updated
19 March, 2021
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