"BALSHAM WAR MEMORIAL"
To the eternal memory of the men of BALSHAM who died in the service of their country
Postcard from the past Raymond Head's plaque in Balsham church They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old,
Twenty eight in the Great War of 1914-1919 and nine in 1939-145 and one Boer War
The war memorial is a column in the churchyard of south of Holy Trinity Church
The memorial was constructed in 1919 by Oxford architect F.E.Howard and the World War Two names added in December 1946. There is also a Roll of Honour book in the church. The memorial received grants in 2013 of £846 from English Heritage and £250 from the War Memorial Trust towards cleaning and re-pointing. Then in 2015 a further grant from the War Memorials Trust of £150 towards repairs with lime mortar to prevent water ingress.
The official description from Historic England is:-
War memorial 1919 by F E Howard, architect, Oxford. Clipsham limestone. Gabled cross with crucifixion and Virgin and St John. On south side seated Virgin and Child in mandorla. On tapering chamfered column and base both with brooch stops. Stepped octagonal plinth with inscriptions.
The inscription panel on the bottom step riser reads:-
REMEMBER THOSE FROM BALSHAM
WHO IN THESE YEARS OF WAR
MADE THE GREAT SACRIFICE
The names are incised on the same level and on two of the panels are the dates 1914-1918 and 1939-1945
1939-1945
courtesy of Simon Knott www.suffolkchurches.co.uk
A small memorial incorporating a lockable desk against one of the pillars of the nave contains a leather bound book, a Roll of Honour of those who served in the wars. In this book are further men named who failed to return. Following is a transcription of that book:-
M.C. = Military Cross......M.M. = Military Medal......P.o.W = Prisoner of War......R.A.M.C. = Royal Army Medical Corps
R.H.A. = Royal Horse Artillery.....R.F.A. = Royal Field Artillery.....R.G.A. = Royal Garrison Artillery
R.A.F. = Royal Air Force.....A.I.F. = Australian Imperial Forces.....M.G.C. = Machine Gun Corps.....T.F. = Territorial Force
Gnr = Gunner.....Dr = Driver.....Tpr = Trooper.....Rfn = Rifleman
ANSELL, GEORGE ,Rfn. 1st Rifle Brigade. Killed in Action near Arras, France, 5 Oct.1918
ANSELL, SIDNEY. Sergt. 1st Suffolk Regiment,,Malta, Egypt, France.... W.Ypres 1915
BASS, WILLIAM, Cpl. 15th Hussars. India, Irish rebellion..Killed in Action, France 1917
BEAVIS, CHARLES, Pte. 2nd Suffolk Regiment. Belgium, France. P.o.W., Mons Retreat, 1914
BEETON, ALBERT EDWARD, Pte. Royal Sussex Regiment. France
BEETON, ARTHUR HORACE, Pte. 9th Bedfordshire and 10th Worcestershire Regiments W.W. France
BEETON, SIDNEY EDWARD, Pte. 11th Suffolk Regiment. Killed in Action, Somme, France,1916
BEETON, WILLIAM, Pte. 7th Royal Fusiliers Killed in Action River Ancre, France, 15 Nov.1916
BEETON, WILLIAM CHARLES, Pte. Essex Regiment
BIGGS, ARTHUR, Cpl. 9th West Yorkshire Regiment. W.W. France, W. Dardanelles, M.M. 1918
BIGGS, FREDERICK, Pte. 7tgh Suffolk Regiment. W. Somme, France, 12 Oct.1916
BIGGS, OWEN JOHN, A/Bdr. R.G.A. Died of Wounds, France, 23 Sept.1915
BIGGS, ROBERT GAD, Pte. 19th (Q.A.O.R.) Hussars. Killed in Action, France, 8 Oct.1918
BILLING, HOWARD, Lieut. Bedfordshire Yeomanry, 6th Notts and Derby Regiment and 6th Royal Sussex Regiment. Staff France, India
BINGLEY, HUGH JESSOP, Capt. R.H.A. (T.F.) Egypt, Palestine
BISHOP, GEORGE, Dr. R.G.A. France
BRETT, CHARLES, Pte. 11th Suffolk Regiment
BROWN, ALBERT EDWARD, Lance-Cpl. Hunts Cyclists
BROWN, ALBERT WILLIAM, Pte. 2nd Canadians Killed in Action, France. 25 May.1915
BROWN, ARTHUR, Gnr. R.G.A. France, Belgium
BROWN, CHARLES, Lce-Cpl. 11th Suffolk Regiment France, Belgium
BROWN, GEORGE, Pte. Royal Irish Rifles
BROWN, HORACE,,Pte. Manchester Regiment. Italy. Killed in action, Lille, France 5 Oct 1918
BROWN, REGINALD, Gnr. R.G.A. W.France
BROWN, SIDNEY, Gnr. R.G.A. France
BROWN, SIDNEY WALLACE, Pte. 13th London Regiment. France
BROWN, SYDNEY, Pte. 4th Suffolk Regiment Belgium, Germany.
BROWN, WALTER, Pte. 3rd Suffolk Regiment France
BROWN, WILLIAM CHARLES, Cpl. A.I.F. New Guinea, W.W. Dardanelles, W,France M.M. France 1918
BROWN, WILLIAM THOMAS, Pte. West Yorkshire Regiment
BROYD, FRANK, Pte. East Surrey Regiment. France P.o.W.
BROYD, FREDERICK, Pte. Suffolk Regiment. Killed in Action, France, 25 Aug.1916
BROYD, JOHN, Pte. Cyclists
BROYD, PERCY, Pte. 1st Bedfordshire Regiment.France
BROYD, WILLIAM, Sergt. R.A.M.C. France, Dardanelles, East Africa
BUSHNELL, JOHN ALBERT. 105 Labour Company. France
CARTER, HARRY, Dr. R.A.S.C.
CARTER, WILLIAM,Pte. 3rd Middlesex Regiment
CHAMBERS, CHARLES JOHN, Pte. 1st Norfolk Regiment. France. W.Ypres, Belgium, 10 Oct.1917
CHAMBERS, WILLIAM, Pte. R.A.S.C. (M.T.) France. Belgium
CLARKE, GEORGE, Gnr. M.G.C. Killed in Action, France 9 Nov.1917
CLARKE, ROLAND, Pte. 11th Suffolk Regiment Killed in Action France
CROSS, LAWRENCE, 1st A.M. R.A.F.
DANIELS, ARTHUR, Pte. Queen's RoyalWest Surrey Regiment, Suffolk Regiment, Labour Corps. France, Belgium
DANIELS, CHARLES, Staff Sergt. R.A.S.C.
DANIELS, DAVID, Pte. 8th Suffolk Regiment. Belgium, Egypt, Palestine W.France 19 France 1916
DANIELS, ELIJAH, Pte. Bedfordshire Regiment. France, Germany, W.Ypres Belgium.
DANIELS, JOHN, Gnr. R.G.A. France
DANIELS, PHILIP, Pte. 11th Suffolk Regiment
DANIELS, WILLIAM, Pte. 1st Suffolk Regiment. France, Belgium, Salonica
DAWSON, PERCIVAL JAMES, Cpl. 11th Suffolk Regiment. France W.Albert 2 Aug.1916 W. Arras 28 April 1917
- - - - - - - - - -W. Peronne 26 Aug. 1917, W.Hinges, 21 Aug.1918
DAWSON, FRANK, A.B. Seaman Gunner, torpedoed,Archangel.Battle of Falklands on HMS Lancaster.
DAY, GEORGE, Sergt. 11th Suffolk Regiment. France W. Passchendaele Ridge
DAY, HAROLD, Sergt. 2nd Durham Light infantry. France
DEEKS, HERBERT, Pte. Chesire Regiment
DEER, THOMAS,Pte. A.I.F. Killed in Action, Ypres, Belgium 18 Oct.1917
DEER, THOMAS, Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment. France W.Ypres, Belgium 18 Oct.1917
ELLAM, ARCHIBALD, Pte. 1st Bedfordshire Regiment. France M.M.
ELLAM, HERBERT, Pte. 31st training Reserve Brigade
ELLAM, LEONARD, Gnr. M.G.C. France
EVANS, JAMES, Stoker. H.M.S. Illustrious
FAIERS, CHARLES HERBERT, Com.Sergt Maj. 1st Suffolk Regiment. Belgium, France, Macedonia, Serbia, Dardanelles
FREE, CHARLES, Pte. 2nd Suffolk Regiment. France P.o.W.
FREE, JONAS, Pte. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. Killed in Action France
FRY, GEORGE FREDERICK, Pte. Essex Regiment. France, Germany
GOODCHILD, JOHN STANLEY, Tpr. Suffolk Yeomanry. Killed in Action Gallipoli, 29 Nov.1915
GOODEN, HARRY, Pte. 14th Hampshire Regiment. W.France 18 Oct.1916
GRAY, JAMES GEORGE, Cpl. 29th City of London and 15th Royal Sussex Regiment
GRIGG, WILLIAM, Dr. R.F.A. and R.G.A. France, Belgium, Germany
HEAD, RAYMOND EVELYN, Capt. 1st Liverpool Regiment. France M.C. and Bar. Died of Wounds 24 Nov.1918
HILL, ALBERT, Pte. 11th Suffolk Regiment. France
HOBBS, HENRY, Pte. 11th Suffolk Regiment. France, Belgium
HOBBS, PERCY SIDNEY, Lce-Cpl. 11th Suffolk Regiment.Belgium. W. Guillemont 16 Nov.1916. W. Arras, France 9 April 1917
HUGHES, ALFRED WESTON, Lieut. R.F.A. and R.A.F. W.Abeele, Belgium Feb.1916. W.Vichy Ridge, France May 1916
INCE, SAMUEL HARRY, Sergt. 1.9th Hampshire Regiment. East Persian Field Force
JACOBS, ARTHUR, Lce-Cpl. 1/4th Suffolk Regiment. France
JACOBS, LAWFORD JARVIS, Rfn. 60th Rifles. Belgium W. near Cambrai, France 23 Sept 1918
JACOBS, STANLEY, Pte. 11th Suffolk Regiment. Belgium. W.Somme Grance 1 July 1916. W.Arras 24 April 1917
- - - - - - - W.Passchendaele 21 Oct.1917. W.Amiens 23 April 1918. W. Ecouste 30 Aug. 1918
JACOBS, STEPHEN, Pte. 13th Suffolk Regiment. Salonica, Egypt
JACOBS, WALTER, 1/5th Suffolk Regiment. France, Egypt, Palestine. Torpedoed HM Transport Aragon, Mediterranean 27 Dec, 1917
JOLLEY, WILLIAM, Gnr. R.G.A. France W.near Ypres, Belgium 4 Sept.1917
KINSEY, STANLEY, Gnr R.F.A.
KINSEY, WALTER, Pte. 2nd Suffolk Regiment Killed in Action. France
KITCHENER, HAROLD, Staff-Sergt Farrier. S.A. Corps Aux.Horse Transport France
KNIGHTS, SIDNEY, Pte. 11th Suffolk Regiment
KNOWLSON, ALBERT, Wheeler, R.A.S.C. France, Belgium
LANE, HARRY JAMES, Pte Tank Corps. France
LONG, CHARLES BERTRAM, 2nd Lieut. R.A.S.C. W. Egypt 1917
LONG, RICHARD, Tpr. Essex Yeomanry. France
LONGDEN, EDWARD, Capt. R.A.M.C.
MANN, BERTIE, Cpl. M.F.P. France
MANN, CLARENCE JOHN, Pte. Royal West Kent Regiment. W.near Cambrai, France 1 Oct.1918
MANN, GERALD, Lieut. M.G.C. W.near Albert, France 5 June 1918
MANN, WILLIAM LESLIE, A.M. R.N.A.S. France
MAY, STANLEY WILLIAM HAMMOND, Lce-Cpl. 1/4 Suffolk Regiment
MEDCALFE, CLIFFORD ROBERT, Pte. 11th Suffolk Regiment W.Somme France 1 July 1916
MILLER, CHARLES, Pte. Guards M.G.C.
MILLER, GEORGE HENRY, Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment W.Thiepval, France, 14 Oct. 1916
MORLING, WILLIAM, Pte. R.A.S.C. France
MULLARD, DOUGLAS O. Steward II R.N. Pacific, East Indies, Persian Gulf, North Sea, Baltic
MULLARD, WILLIAM ARTHUR, Pte. 1st Suffolk Regiment. France, Belgium, Germany.
MURRELL, HARRY, Gnr. M.G.C. Killed in Action, France
NEWMAN, WILLIAM PLUMB, Gnr. R.F.A. W.W.W. France
NOBLE, JOSEPH, Pte. 11th Suffolk Regiment. Killed in Action Somme. France 1 July 1916
OSBORN, HAROLD, Pte. Suffolk Regiment W. Hill60, France, 1 July 1915. W.Ypres, Belgium 2 Oct. 1915
OSBORN, JOHN ROBERT, A.B. R.N.D. Reserve. W. Cambrai, France 2 March 1917
OSBORN, THEODORE, Dr. R.H.A. Belgium. W. Cambrai, France 22 Nov.1917 W. Amiens, 31 March 1918
OTLEY, HAROLD ALBERT, Pte. 11th Suffolk Regiment.France W.Roeux 28 April 1917 W.Bailleul,14 April 1918 W. Merville 21 Aug. 1918
OTLEY, HARRY, Pte. 11th Suffolk Regiment M.G.C. France
PARKER, ALFRED LEONARD, Pte. 2nd Suffolk Regiment W. France 27 Dec.1915
PARKER, CYRIL GEORGE,Pte. 1st Suffolk Regiment. France, Egypt. Died P.o.W. Germany 25 Sept.1915
PASK, ALBERT . Pte. 2/13th London Regiment. France, Belgium, Egypt. W. near Jersusalem, Palestine, 1917
PASK, DAVID, Pte 11th Suffolk Regiment. France. Died in hospital England
PASK, GEORGE, Lce-Cpl. Cyclist Corps France
PASK, HARRY, Lce-Cpl 11th Suffolk Regiment. W.Bullecourt, France 1918
PEPPERCORN, William, Pte. Noerthamptonshire Regiment. France
PLUCK, FREDERICK, Pte. 11th Suffolk Regiment. France
PLUMB, ALBERT, Pte. 1st Suffolk Regiment W. France
PLUMB, ARTHUR, Pte. 11th Suffolk Regiment. Belgium W.Somme, France 1916
PLUMB, CUBITT, Signaller. Middlesex Regiment. Gibraltar, Italy, Turkey, Salonica W. Labourillerie, France 6 Nov.1915
PLUMB, ERNEST, R.N. Jutland battle, H.M.S. Carnara
PLUMB, GEORGE, Dr. R.F.A. France, Belgium
PLUMB, HARRY, Conductor. Supply and Transport Corps (Indian Army) Mesopotamia
PLUMB, JOHN HARRY, Gnr. R.F.A. Died of wounds, Ypres,Belgium 27 Aug 1917
PLUMB, LEONARD, Sergt. R.H.A.
PLUMB, PHILIP, Pte. 18th Batt. A.I.F. Killed in action Gallipoli 22 Aug.1915
PLUMB, SIDNEY, Pte. 11th Suffolk Regiment. Died on Home Service 1 April 1915
PRENTICE, WALTER, Pte. 11th Suffolk Regiment and Suffolk Yeomanry. Belgium, Egypt, Palestine W.Somme, France Aug.1916
PURKIS, LEONARD ALFRED, Capt. R.A.S.C. France
RAWLINGSON, STANLEY HARRY, Pte. 1st East Yorkshire Regiment France. W. Chapel Armentieres, 24 Oct.1914
- - - - - - - W. Flers 1916 W.Passchedaele 4 Oct. 1917
RICHARDSON, JAMES WILLIAM, Pte. 11th Suffolk Regiment. Belgium W. Henin Hill, France, 22 Mar.1915
ROGERS, CHARLES, Pte 11th Suffolk Regiment
RULE, ARTHUR, Pte. Tank Corps. France, Belgium
RULE, FREDERICK ERNEST, Pte. 1/4 Essex Regiment. W. near Jerusalem, Palestine 25 Nov.1917
SAMWORTH, LEONARD, Cpl. 11th Suffolk Regiment and R.A.M.C. Belgium. W.Albert, France 16 June 1916
SAUNT, THOMAS ERNEST, Capt. R.A.M.C.(T.F.)
SCOTCHER, ALFRED, Gnr. R.F.A. France, Mesopotamia, India
SCOTCHER, FREDERICK, Pte. London Regiment. France, Germany
SCOTCHER, GEORGE, Gnr. R.F.A. Mesopotamia
SCOTCHER, HARRY, Suffolk Regiment. France P.o.W. Germany, four years.
SHIRLEY, FRANK, Pte. 1st Scottish Rifles. Belgium W. St Jean, France 19 Dec.1915 W.Kemmel 1 May 1918
SHIRLEY,GEORGE, W.O> 2nd Class. R.G.A. Malta, Ceylon
SMITH, HARRY THOMAS, R.N.
SMITH, WILLIAM HOWARD, A/Sergt. R.F.A. France W.Ypres, Belgium 1917
STARLING, FRED, Pte. R.A.S.C. France, Belgium
STINTON, ALEC. 60th Rifles. Killed in action France, 21 March 1918
STINTON, HARRY, Pte. Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment. France
STINTON, STANLEY, Cpl.19th Hussars. Killed in action France 1918
TAYLOR, GEORGE, Pte. R.A.S.C. France, Salonica
TAYLOR, HAROLD,Pte. Essex Yeomanry. France. Killed in action Ypres, Belgium, 13 May 1915
TAYLOR, Ian, Capt. R.A.S.C. and King's Own Scottish Borderers. W. Buzancy, France 28 July 1918
TWITCHETT, EDMUND HARRY, Pte. Sussex Regiment
WEBB, GEORGE BENNETT, Sergt. Veterinary Corps. France, Dardanelles, Salonica, Palestine, Egypt
WEBB, SIDNEY, Pte. Bedfordshire Regiment. W.W. France
WHITTAKER, ALBERT, Rfn. 60th Rifles. Germany
WHITTAKER, HARRY, Pte. M.G.C. France
WHITTAKER, HERBERT, Pte. 3rd Middlesex Regiment. Salonica
WILSON, OLIVER, Pte. Royal Fusiliers. W.Gallipoli
WOOD, LESLIE WILLIAM, 2nd Lieut. Malay States V.R. and 64th Pioneers, India. Singapore mutiny
1939-1945
BATTEN, Owen - Pte. Grn.Howards.Dunkirk
HOBBS, Frank Albert - Royal Suffolk Regt. Home Defence. 29-12-39
HOBART, Daniel George - with Cable and Wireless under Navy orders. Ship bombed off Greece
JOLLEY, John Arthur - Sgt. 11th Cambridgeshire Regt. Prisoner of War - Far East 7-6-1943
OSBORN, John Robert - V.C. C.S.M. Grenardiers-Winnipeg
RICHARDSON, Robert William - Sgt Air Gunner, Royal Air Force. Western Air Ops. over Dortmund 23-5-44
SIMPSON, Sidney William - Pte. Northamptonshire Regt. Burma. Died of wounds 1-3-45
TOMLIN, Francis Douglas - A/AB. S.S. Olga, Durban. S.Africa.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,
We will remember them.