CAXTON WAR MEMORIAL

World War 1 & 2 - Roll of Honour with detailed information
Compiled and copyright © 2000 Martin Edwards

The memorial stands at the cross roads of Ermine Street, Bourn Road and Gransden Road. It takes the form of a stone celtic cross with an iscription on the smooth face made in lead lettering. It was unveiled 14th November 1920 by Major General Harry Hendley C.S.I. There are 8 names listed for World War 1 and 5 for World War 2.

Extract from Cambridge Independent Press - Friday 19 November 1920, page 8:

CAXTON. Major General Harold Hendley on Armistice Day Memories. The unveiling of the war memorial took place on Sunday afternoon, in the presence a large gathering of interested spectators. Nearly everyone in Caxton was present, and many from Bourn, Longstowe, and Major- General Harold Hendley, C.S.I., had been invited to unveil the memorial, and after the singing of the hymn “Ten thousand times ten thousand,’’ General Hendley pulled the cords binding the Union Jacks and disclosed a fine Celtic cross in rough Cornish granite, with the name of the eight fallen in the Great War inscribed on the base. The cross has been erected at the south end of the village at the junction of the Gransden and Old North Roads, on the bank of the Brook, a commanding position from all points view. In dedicating the memorial General Hendley spoke as follows: “To the glory of God and in grateful memory of those men of Caxton who gave their lives for King and country and for a righteous cause. I dedicate this memorial. May all who look upon it realise the peace of sins forgiven, the joy of faithful service, and the power the endless life to which may God vouchsafe to bring us all through Jesus Christ our Lord. “Through a series of fortuitous circumstances this ceremony has fallen on this Sunday in Armistice Week, the day which Queen Alexandra has asked us to remember our obligations to the St. John Ambulance Association and the Red Cross Society, and when as now we think of our sick and wounded and dying, and what these societies did for them, no better occasion could arise to dwell upon the debt we owe them. “We have, too, very fresh our memories the ceremonies last Thursday, which appealed so intensely to the whole of the Empire when his Majesty the King, in the presence his Ministers of State, Admirals, Generals, and many other great personages of the Realm, unveiled the Cenotaph erected to the memory those who gave their lives the Empire, and afterwards, when that unknown soldier and warrior was laid to rest in Westminster Abbey by the side of kings and those who have made the Empire what it is, which he and others like him have saved. The King acted as chief mourner, surrounded many of those who over many months and years have mourned their dearest, knowing nothing but that they were ‘missing. ’ “Because this honour done to an unknown soldier, as any one of us may have known and loved him, there has already grown greater sympathy between those who have dead to mourn and those who have been spared this affliction.

“It is because of the need we have to quicken this sympathy that these occasions for going back in our thoughts over those anxious years are good for us. We remember how dark our prospects seemed and how from time to time news came of injury or death to our dearest or our next-door neighbours. We were very near one another then, and it strengthened us to keep our promise, and because of the common danger we went on believing in those who fought on and in spite of disasters assuring ourselves of ultimate victory. “It was because of this and that we and our Allies became truly united in counsel and effort that we were saved from what befell Belgium, and worse. Let us ask ourselves if we are doing all that should preserve what the men whose names appear on this memorial and millions of others, some whom attend here to-day, fought for. Are we not by our disunion, our class prejudices, our selfish interests, and our want true fellowship, treading a path that may lead us to the loss of personal liberty, the ruin of our homes, and the destruction this bountiful beautiful country of ours? “Is there no way out from these death-giving dissensions? Has this cross no meaning for us? At the other end of our village are the gibbet post and mound, also at the crossroads the sign of justice; in Russia the negation of justice, violence, and dead stages on the road to ruin: but here you have placed an emblem that speaks faith, hope, and love, which to those to whom they have any meaning are of true comfort in personal sorrow, and are sufficient to heal all social and national ills.” At the close many of the relatives and friends of those fallen placed wreaths at the foot of the Cross. The Nonconformist minister then offered a short prayer; “For ever with the Lord” was sung with great feeling by everyone, after which the Vicar offered prayers and blessed the cross. The “Last Post” was sounded by two bugler, the brothers Leslie and Vincent Rigg, who very kindly came over from the Leys School for the purpose. After a short interval came the “Reveille,” and officers and men present passed the cross at the “Salute,” and the gathering dispersed. The weather was kind, and everyone felt that they had assisted and been present at an uplighting and memorable ceremony in the old posting town of Caxton.

Photographs Copyright © Martin Edwards 2000

IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THOSE
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR
KING AND COUNTRY

1914-1918