WIMPOLE AND ARRINGTON WAR MEMORIAL

The Wimpole and Arrington war memorial stands at the junction between the A1189 and A603, Wimpole. It takes the form of a granite, Wheel cross on a tapering shaft on a two-steeped plinth, a Sword of Sacrifice sites in relief on the face. The inscription is to be found on the front face of the plinth. The whole stands in a low walled surround. There are eighteen names for World War 1 and three for World War 2. The memorial was erected circa 1920 and rededicated in 1947. The paving and low retaining wall were added in 1947 prior to the rededication.

The corner junction at which the memorial is situated was once the significant point on the road midway between the villages of Arrington and Wimpole.

Many of those recorded on the Memorial were volunteers who enlisted in the infantry battalions of the Suffolk Regiment, and who were later killed in action fighting in northern France.

The Wimpole Parish website has detailed information about the men and women on this memorial with researched information and photographs; the site is maintained by Steve Odell.

Photograph Copyright © Ann Thompson & A.N. Other 2000

"IN PROUD AND GRATEFUL MEMORY OF
THE MEN OF WIMPOLE AND ARRINGTON
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR
COUNTRY IN THE GREAT WAR 1914—1918"

AGAR-ROBARTES	Thomas Charles Reginald (The Hon.)	Lieutenant Temporary Captain, Commanding No 2 Company, 1st Ballation, Coldstream Guards. Died from wounds received from sniper fire while bringing in a wounded private from no man's land during the Battle of Loos 30 September 1915, Aged 35. Mention in Despatches (MiD) [LG 1 January 1916 page 30] Born 22 May 1880 at Lanhydrock Cornwall. Educated Eton and Christ Church, Oxford. Member of Parliament for St. Austell and Mid-Cornwall from 1908. Eldest son of Thomas Charles, 6th Viscount Clifden, and Mary, Viscountess Clifden, of Lanhydrock, Bodmin, Cornwall. Buried in LAPUGNOY MILITARY CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Plot I Row D Grave 33
CLARKE	Edward George	Private, 7762, 7th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 27 March 1918. Aged 27. Born Arrington, enlisted Cambridge. Son of George and Sarah Elizabeth Clarke, of Crow End, Arrington. No known grave. Commemorated on POZIERES MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Panel 25
COLLINS	Harry	Private 13669, 7th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 26 August 1917. Aged 32. Born crica 1885 in Arrington. Husband of L. F. Collins, of 50, Whitcomb St., Leicester Square, London. In 1911 he was single, aged 26, living with his parents and one sister, a domestic gardener, living at Church End, Arrington, born Arrington. Buried in HARGICOURT BRITISH CEMETERY, Aisne, France. Plot I Row B Grave 13. [Listed as COLLIN on War memorial]
INGREY	Harry Albert	Private 3/8232, 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 24 pril 1915. Aged 22. Born Croydon, cambridgeshire, enlisted Cambridge. Son of Henry Ingrey, of 33, Croydon, Royston, Herts. No known grave. Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 21.
INGREY	William	Sergeant 5126, 3rd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Died in United Kingdom 5 June 1915. Aged 38. Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. Born Wimpole, enlisted Royston, resident Dunstable. Son of Edward and Hannah Ingrey; husband of Beatrice May Ingrey, of Belle Vue, West Parade, Dunstable. Buried in FELIXSTOWE NEW CEMETERY, Suffolk. Section J. Grave 12.
MATTHEWS	David	Private 16602, 11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 1 July 1916, Born Haslingfield, enlisted Cambridge. Buried in GORDON DUMP CEMETERY, OVILLERS-LA BOISSELLE, Somme, France. Plot IX Row Q Grave 2.
NEAVES	John Wallis	Private 20870, 5th Battalion, King's (Shropshire Light Infrantry). Died 12 February 1917. Aged 35. Formerly 35188, Suffolk Regiment. Enlisted meldreth, resident Old Wimpole. Husband of Emma Neaves, of Wimpole. In 1911 he was aged 29, an Assistant Wood Swayer, married to Emma for 2 years, born Barrington, Cambridgeshire, resident Woodyard Cottages, Wimpole. Buried in AVESNES-LE-COMTE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, Pas de Calais, France. Plot IV Row B Grave 6. See also Barrington War Memorial
PELL	Alfred Henry	Private G/21259, 2nd Battalion, Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Killed in action 27 October 1916. Formerly 10706, East Surrey Regiment. Born Croydon, Surrey, enlisted Cambridge, resident Arrington. Buried in BERKS CEMETERY EXTENSION, Comines-Warneton, Hainaut, Belgium. Plot I. Row J. Grave 17.
PRATT	Charles Hales	Lance Corporal 816, 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own). Died of wounds Monday 7 June 1915. Aged 31. Born and resident Wimpole, enlisted Cambridge. Also listed with his mother's maiden name in some records e.g. Charles PRATT HALES. Buried in ST. SEVER CEMETERY, ROUEN, Seine-Maritime, France. Plot A. Row 9. Grave 45.
REYNOLDS	Alfred Frederick	Private 17522, 'A' Company, 11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Died of wounds 24 May 1916 Aged 22. Born and enlisted Cambridge. Son of Alfred and Elizabeth Reynolds, of 15, River Lane, Newmarket Rd., Cambridge. Buried in MERICOURT-L'ABBE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, Somme, France. Plot I. Row D. Grave 7.
SKINNER	Edward Charles	Private 15628, 7th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 9 August 1916. Aged 25. Born New Wimpole, enlisted Cambridge. Son of Ellen Skinner, of New Wimpole, Royston, Herts, and the late Charles Skinner. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 1 C and 2 A.
SKINNER	Frank	Private 13644, 11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 1 July 1916. Aged 21. Born Wimpole, enlisted Cambridge. Son of Charles and Ellen Skinner, of New Wimpole, Royston, Herts. Buried in GORDON DUMP CEMETERY, OVILLERS-LA BOISSELLE, Somme, France. Plot X. Row Q. Grave 5.
SKINNER	Harry	Private 23312, 7th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Died 5 April 1918. Aged 20. Born Wimpole, enlisted Cambridge. Son of Ellen Skinner, of New Wimpole, Royston, Herts, and the late Charles Skinner. No known grave. Commemorated on POZIERES MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Panel 25.
SMITH	Frederick	Private 8246, 1st, Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action 14 November 1914. Born and resident Arrington, enlisted Royston. No known grave. Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 31 and 33.
WAYMAN	William	Lance Corporal 13658, 11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 1 July 1916. Aged 20. Born Wimpole, enlisted Cambridge. Son of Walter and Annie Wayman, of New Wimpole, Royston, Herts. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 1 C and 2 A.
WHETSTONE	Henry George	Acting Corporal 814, 5th Battalion, Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own). Died in United Kingdom 22 May 1915. Aged 29. Born Wimpole, enlisted CAmbridge, resident Royston. Son of Mrs. Mary Whetstone, of Southern Lodge, Wimpole, Royston, Herts. Buried in SS. MARY AND SEXBURGA NEW CHURCHYARD, MINSTER-IN-SHEPPEY, Kent. Section M. Grave 10. [ Also listed as 2nd Battalion on memorial]
WILKINS	Harry	Private 15636, 11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 28 February 1916. Aged 23. Born Arrington, enlisted Cambridge. Son of Rule and Ellen Wilkins, of The Stables, Wimpole, Cambs. Buried in BREWERY ORCHARD CEMETERY, BOIS-GRENIER, Nord, France. Plot IV. Row B. 3 Grave 5.
WISBEY	Frederick George	Private 40408, 2nd Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment. Killed in action 21 April 1917. Formerly 34374, Suffolk Regiment. Born Nuthampstead, Hertfordshire, enlisted Wimpole, resident Arrington. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 1 C.
1939-1945
ALLISON	Florence Elizabeth	Leading Aircraftwoman 2130584, Women's Auxiliary Air Force. Died Saturday 8 December 1945, Aged 21. Daughter of William Allison, and of Olive Allison, of Hornsey, Middlesex. Buried in NEW SOUTHGATE CEMETERY, Hertfordshire Kerb Wall. Section A.H. Grave 99.
BULLEN	William Randall	Private 5835462, 11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Died as a Japanese Prisoner of War while working on the Thailand-Burma Railway 21 October 1943. Aged 34. Son of George and Ellen Bullen; husband of Winifred Marguerite Bullen, of Cambridge. Buried in KANCHANABURI WAR CEMETERY, Thailand. Plot 2. Row B. Grave 11.
LAW	John William	Private 5831012, 2nd Battalion, Cambridgeshire Regiment. Died as Prisoner of War being transported on the Japanese 'Hell Ship' Hofuku Maru when it was sunk by planes from U.S. Aircraft Carrier 21 September 1944. Aged 27. As a Japanese prisoner he was part of HQ Company, Party J.34. No known grave. Commemorated on SINGAPORE MEMORIAL, Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore. Column 59.
Also listed for this parish in the Ely Cathedral Second World War Book of Remembrance:
MEADOWS	L C	No further details currently.

Last updated 31 October, 2022