BLETSOE
WAR MEMORIAL
World
War 1 & 2 - Roll of Honour with detailed information
Compiled and copyright © 2002 Martin Edwards
additional information Edward Bean - Churchwarden, Bletsoe
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There
is a war memorial in the centre of the village.
The memorial is a Celtic
Cross in grey granite unveiled 13th June 1920.
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Colour
Photographs Copyright © Martin Edwards 2002
The picture below
is of the original unveiling on 13th June 1920.
and was
taken from "Bedfordshire At War" by Nigel Lutt
available for purchase
from the Bedford Record Office.
| TO
THE
GLORY OF GOD
AND IN MEMORY
OF
THE MEN OF BLETSOE
WHO GAVE
THEIR LIVES
IN THE GREAT WAR
1914-1919
| CAMPION
| Walter
Ernest |
Major,
East Yorkshire Regiment. Plaque in the church reads: In Loving
Memory of MAJOR WALTER E CAMPION, East Yorkshire Regiment.
Killed in action near Lille Wednesday October 28th 1914. Aged
43 years. Son of the late Mr. H. Campion. Educated Bedford
Modern School (1882-89). Commemorated in RATION FARM MILITARY
CEMETERY, LA CHAPELLE-D'ARMENTIERES, Nord, France. Special
Memorial VI. M. A commerative plaque is to be found inside
on the wall of St Mary's Church. A wooden battlefield grave
marker bearing Walter Campion's name is now in Bletsoe Church.
See also Bedford
Modern School |
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|
| From
Andy Pay's research into the Marquis de Ruvigny' s Roll of Honour the following:
Volume
1, Part 2, Page 57. CAMPION, Walter Ernest. Major, 1st Battalion (15th Foot),
The East Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Henry Campion of Bletsoe castle near Bedford.
Born Dean, co. Beds 9-8-1871, educated Bedford Modern School, gazetted 2nd Lieut
East Yorkshire Regiment, from the Militia 12-12-1894, promoted Lieutenant 2-4-1897,
Captain 10-5-1900, and Major 16-4-1913. Served in the South Africa War 1900-1902,
being employed with the Mounted Infantry (slightly wounded), took part in the
operations in the Transvaal in may and june 1900, including actions near Johannesburg,
Pretoria and Diamond Hill (11th & 12th June), operations in the Orange River
Colony July to 29th Nov 1900, including actions at Wittebergen (1st to 29th July),
Bothaville and Caledon River (27th to 29th Nov), operations in Transvaal, west
of Pretoria, including action at Frederickstad. Was in command of the 5th Mounted
Infantry from Feb to Mar 1902, took part in the operations in Orange River Colony
and Cape Colony 30th Nov 1900 to March 1901, operations in the Orange River Colony
Mar to Sep 1901 and Oct 1901 and April to 31st May 1902 (mentioned in despatches,
London Gazette 10-9-1901 and 29-7-1902, brevet of major, Queens medal with 4 clasps
and Kings medal with 2 clasps), subsequently served in Burma, India and with the
Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders, was wounded 20-9-1914, but returned
to the front, and was killed in action near Lille 28th Oct following. |
| | BARKER
| Harry
| Sergeant,
TT/03385, Royal Army Veterinary Corps attached 20th Brigade H.Q., Royal Horse
Artillery. Died Monday 14th October 1918 in Egypt. Aged 35. Son of John Barker,
of Radwell, Bedfordshire.; husband of R. A. Barker, of 6, Bletsoe, Bedford. Commemorated
on ALEXANDRIA (HADRA) WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY, Egypt. Panel F. 228. |
| SURRIDGE
| Walter
Frederick | Sergeant,
20059, 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action Monday 4th September
1916 in France & Flanders. Aged 28. Born Bletsoe, enlisted Ampthill, resident
Bedford. Son of John Surridge, of Chettles Close, Sharnbrook, Beds; husband of
Caroline Surridge, of Church Farm, Church Rd., Sutton, Surrey. Commemorated on
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 2 C. | |
HOLMES
| Cecil
Richard | [Lance
Corporal on memorial] Private, 18042, 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed
in action Thursday 20th September 1917 in France & Flanders. Aged 24. Born
and resident Bletsoe, enlisted Bedford. Son of David and Clara Holmes, of Whitwick
Green, Bletsoe, Bedfordshire. Commemorated on TYNE COT MEMORIAL, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen,
Belgium. Panel 48 to 50 and 162A. | |
PETTIT
| Leonard
Edwin | Lance
Corporal, 18030, 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Died Tuesday 28th December
1915 in France & Flanders. Aged 25. Born and resident Bletsoe, enlisted Bedford.
Son of James and Elizabeth Pettit. of Bletsoe. Buried in ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY,
Pas de Calais, France. Grave VI. B. 25A. | |
ARMSTRONG
| Thomas
| Private
162295, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). Killed in action Saturday 12th October 1918
in France & Flanders. Age 26. Born Bletsoe, enlisted Bedford. Formerly 3/7503,
Bedfordshire Regiment. Buried in NEUVILLY COMMUNAL CEMETERY AND EXTENSIONNord,
France. Grave A. 33. | |
BROWN
| Arthur
George | Private,
22895, 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action Friday 15th September
1916 in France & Flanders. Age 17. Born and resident Bletsoe, enlisted Bedford.
Buried in GUILLEMONT ROAD CEMETERY, GUILLEMONTSomme, France Grave X. A. 2.
| | COLEMAN
| Albert
Ernest | Private,
18025, 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action Friday 30th August
1918 in France & Flanders. Age 20. Born and resident Bletsoe, enlisted Bedford.
Formerly 202176, Royal Scots. Buried in COMBLES COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, Somme,
France. Grave II. F. 15. | |
PARKER
| Artimas
William | Private,
3/7562, 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action Thursday 15th June
1916 in France & Flanders. Age 18. Born and resident Bletsoe, enlisted Bedford.
Buried in ESSEX FARM CEMETERYIeper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Grave II. R. 18.
| | WILDMAN
| Charles
| Private,
200477, 4th Battalion, Alexandra, Princess of Wale's Own (Yorkshire Regiment).
Died Tuesday 25th June 1918 in France & Flanders. Age 25. Born Bedford, enlisted
Stokesley, resident Bletsoe. Buried in HAUTMONT COMMUNAL CEMETERYNord, France.
Grave V. A. 10. | |
CRANE
| Ernest
H | Petty
Officer Boy, TR/9/48630, 53rd Training Reserve Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment.
Died Saturday 2nd November 1918. Aged 18. Adopted son of William Crane; son of
Amy Newton. Buried in Bengeo (Holy
Trinity) Churchyard, Hertfordshire.
| | | | In
the churchyard but not on the memorial - 1939-1945 | |
PILFORD
| Ernest
Alfred |
 | Sergeant
(Pilot) 115343, 245 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Died Wednesday 30th April 1941. Aged 28. Son of Mr. and Mrs.
Joseph John Pilford; husband of Ailsa Dean Pilford, of St.
Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands. Buried in BLETSOE (ST.MARY)
CHURCHYARD, S.E. corner of churchyard. | | THEIR
NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE 5
December 2003 |
