Stilton’s War Dead

Honouring the men of Stilton and surrounding villages who gave their lives during both World Wars

Stilton had long commemorated its war dead in the form of Stilton Memorial Hall, which featured engraved plaques on the wall over the entrance.

With the development of the new Pavilion, the Memorial Hall was sold in 2018 to become a new village pharmacy. The memorial plaques were carefully removed to safe keeping, awaiting a decision about their reinstatement.

In 2019, thanks to the efforts of many, a new War Memorial was created in its current location at the entrance to St Mary Magdalene churchyard.

In the course of this work, two dedicated villagers - Tony Edwards and Barry Gilden - took it on themselves to research more information about the individuals commemorated. A lengthy and often difficult task; records are not always complete and some are known to have been lost.

But the results more than justified the effort. Not only has this 'brought alive' villagers hitherto known only by name, rank and number, it also identifed others who, for reasons unclear, had been commemorated neither on the Memorial itself nor on the tablets in St Mary's church.

This page is dedicated to their memory.

They went with songs to the battle

They were young, straight of limb, true of eye

Steady and aglow


World War 1

Adams, William
Private 8033 1st Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment
Born: Denton, 1885
Killed in action: on or after 17th Sept 1914, aged 29
Husband of Margaret; son of John and Sarah Atkins, Main Street, Denton.
Remembered: Le Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial, France. Stone 20.

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Archer, John William Butts
Lieutenant 2nd Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
Born: Halifax, Yorkshire, 14th March 1890
Killed in action: 16th February 1915, aged 24
Son of the Revd George and Beatrice Butts Archer of Stilton Rectory
Remembered: Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ieper, Belgium, Panels 12 and 14.

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Atkins, James
Private 3078 2nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment
Born: Glatton. 1881
Died: 16th May 1915, aged 34
Son of Thomas and Fanny Atkins; brother of Walter, Fen Street, Stilton
Buried: Cabaret Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, Pas de Calais, France. Grave (marked ‘believed to be’) XXIII. AA.6.

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Atkins, Walter
Private 30292 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment
Born: Glatton, 1878
Died: 21st February 1917, aged 38
Son of Thomas and Fanny Atkins; brother of James, of Fen Street, Stilton; husband of Susan Atkins, Rutland Cottages, Back Lane, Farcet.
Buried: Mont Huon Military Cemetery,Le Treport, France. Grave 3.C.1

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Busby, Charles
Lance-Sergeant* 305566 1st/8th Bn, West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’ Own)
Born: Stilton, 1879
Died: 25th July 1917, aged 38
Son of George and Alice Busby, of Stilton; brother of James Busby.
Remembered: Mont Huon Military Cemetery, Le Treport, France.
(*Shown on War Memorial as Private)

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Busby, James
Private 50508 2nd Battalion, Middlesex Regiment
Born: Stilton, 1876
Died of wounds: 1st Sept 1917, aged 41
Son of George Busby, of Stilton; husband of Annie Busby, Fletton
Buried: Wimereux Communal Cemetery, France. Plot IV.A. 8A.

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Clark, Ernest William
Private 7215 4th Battalion, Australian Infantry, A.I.F
Born: Glatton, 1879
Died: 16th April 1918, aged 37
Son of John and Harriet Clark of Glatton then Caldecote
Remembered: Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Somme, Picardie, France.

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Darkin, Robert
Lance Corporal 14780 6th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment
Died: 14th July 1916, aged 24
Son of Josiah and Alice Darkin,Church Street, Stilton
Buried in Bernafay Wood British Cemetery, Somme Picardie, FranceGrave C.4.

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Freeman, Cecil
Private G/11779 1st Battalion, The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
Born: Folksworth, 27th April 1888
Killed in action: on or after 23rd April 1917, aged 28
Son of Arthur and Annie Freeman of The Fox, Folksworth
Remembered: Arras Memorial, Arras, France. Bay 2, F4.

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Gee, John
Lance Corporal 268526 1st/7th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment
Born: Washingley, April 1894
Died of wounds: 4th March 1917, aged 23
Son of Harry and Ellen Jane Gee, Washingley
Buried: Bray Military Cemetery. Somme, France. Grave II D 57.

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Herbert, Albert
Private 13092 2nd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment
Born: Steeple Gidding, Huntingdonshire 1st September 1894
Killed in action: 26th April 1915, aged 20
Son of Thomas and Martha Herbert; brother of Charles and Reginald, Denton Lodge, Stilton
Buried: Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery, France. Grave I. C.31.

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Herbert, Charles
Private 6071 23rd Battalion, Australian Infantry A.I.F.
Born: Little Gidding, Huntingdonshire 24th March 1887
Killed in action: 9th October 1917 aged 30
Son of Thomas and Martha Herbert; brother of Albert and Reginald, of Denton Lodge, Stilton
Buried: Aeroplane Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium. Grave VII. B. 38.

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Herbert, Reginald
Private 40567 2nd Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers
Born: Little Gidding, Huntingdonshire 26th December 1888
Killed in action: 9th October 1917, aged 29
Son of Thomas and Martha Herbert; brother of Charles and Albert, of Denton Lodge, Stilton
Commemorated: Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium. Panels 54 to 60. Stone 57.

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Hobbs, William
Private 28039 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment
Born: Farcet, Huntingdonshire, 24th August 1883 (twin of brother Shadwell)
Killed in action: Monday, 23rd April 1917, aged 33
Son of Shadwell and the late Sarah Ann Hobbs, lived Farcet and Caldecote.
Remembered: Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 5, G4.

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Houghton, Abraham
Sergeant Trumpeter 512914th (King’s) Hussars
Born: Stilton, 1887
Died of wounds: 26th February 1917
Son of David and Caroline Houghton, The Boot & Shoe Inn, Fen Street, Stilton
Remembered: Basra Memorial, Iraq,Panel 2.

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Houghton, David John
Trooper 145071 Northamptonshire Yeomanry
Born: Stilton, 1893
Died of sickness: 1st July 1918, aged 25
Son of Caroline and the late David Houghton, Fen St., Stilton
Buried: Bordighera British Cemetery, Italy. Grave II. B.5.

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Houghton, Richard
Corporal 172342 Signal Depot (Dunstable), Despatch Rider, Royal Engineers
Born: Stilton, 1880
Died in Hitchin, England: Tuesday 10th April 1917, aged 37
Resident Sheringham, Norfolk
Son of Alfred and Eliza Houghton, George & Dragon Inn, Stilton; husband of Ethel M. Houghton, Birkenhead.
Buried: All Saints Churchyard, Upper Sheringham, Norfolk.

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Hunt, Leonard
Private 16559 2nd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment
Born: Stilton 1886
Killed in action: 14th March 1915, aged 29
Husband of Sarah; Son of John and Martha Hunt, Fen Passage, Stilton
Remembered: Le Touret Memorial,Pas de Calais, France. Panel 29B.

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Islip, Charles Cuthbert
Private 24371 2nd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment
Born: Stilton, 1897
Died: Loughborough, 4th October 1918, aged 21
Brother of Hubert; son of Herbert and Elizabeth Islip of Talbot Cottage, North Street, Stilton
Grave location unknown
Islip, Hubert
Private 23415 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment
Born: Stilton, 1899
Died: On or after 23rd April 1917, aged 18
Brother of Charles; son of Herbert and Elizabeth Islip of Talbot Cottage, North Street, Stilton
Remembered: Arras Memorial, France. Bay 5. Course F. Stone Z.

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Jackson, Cecil Walter
Private 393 1st Huntingdon Cyclist Battalion
Born: Stilton, 1897
Died: Stilton, 28th August 1915, aged 18
Son of Thomas and Jane Jackson of North Street, Stilton
Buried: Stilton Cemetery.

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Jinks, Charles
Private 7370 1st Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment
Born: Morborne, 1888
Died: On or after 20th August 1916
Son of James and Mary Jinks; husband of Isabel Jinks
Buried: Delville Wood Cemetery, Somme, France, Plot 28. H.4.

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Pettifor, Thomas Baxter
Private, G/13418 6th Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regt)
Born: Stilton, 1877
Died: 3rd May 1917, aged 39
Son of Timothy and Rebecca Pettifor, Church Street, Stilton, later Washingley
Remembered: Arras Memorial, France. Bay 7.

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Prior, David Thomas William
Stoker 1st Class K/30930 H.M.S. Staunch, Royal Navy
Born: Stilton, 14th April 1892
Died: Sunk by U-boat UC-38, Palestine coast. 11th November 1917, aged 25
Son of Paul and Annie Prior of Folksworth, later Morborne
Remembered: Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 26

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Richardson, Ernest
Acting Bombardier 94381 26th Battery, Royal Field Artillery
Born: Wistow, Hunts. 1893
Died: 21st September 1917, aged 24
Son of Charles and Betsy Richardson, Folksworth
Buried: Canada Farm Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium Grave III.C.22

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Scott, Wilfred Ernest
Private G/27957 7th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers
Born: Bingham, Notts. 1892
Died of wounds (gas): 13th February 1917, aged 23
Nephew/foster son of Charles and Maria Ruff of Stilton; husband of Lilian Scott
Buried: Doullens Communal Cemetery Ext. No.1, Somme, France. Grave III.G.7.

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Sharpe, Herbert
Rifleman 5593 2nd Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps
Born: King’s Cliffe, 1883
Died of wounds: 2nd November 1914, German Field Hospital, Bousbecque. France, aged 31
Son of Herbert and Emma Sharpe, North Street, Stilton
Buried: Messines Ridge British Cemetery, Belgium. Plot VI. A.48.
Sharpe, James William
Rifleman, Bugler 1946 1st Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps
Born: King’s Cliffe, 1883
Died of syncope: Bethune, France 18th March 1915, aged 30
Son of Herbert and Emma Sharpe, North Street, Stilton
Buried: Bethune Town Cemetery, France. Plot IV.A.82.

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Stretton, W.
Private
No further information known
Thomson, Charles Nathan
Private 9705 1st Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment
Born: Stilton, 1889
Died of wounds: 4th December 1914, aged 25
Son of Mary Ann Abbott, of Polebrook, Oundle, Northants
Buried: Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, France. Plot III. B.55.

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Wells, George Albert
Rifleman 6141 16th Battalion, London Regiment (Queen’s Westminster Rifles)
Born: Battersea, 15th April 1882
Died of wounds: 23rd April 1917, aged 35
Lived Church Street, Stilton, (1891) with grandparents.
Son of Walter (born Stilton) and Harriet Wells of London.
Buried: Ste Marie Cemetery, Le Havre, France. Plot 3. P.12.

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Wright, Thomas James
Private 14738 6th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment
Killed in action: 26th September 1916, aged 25
Son of Mr and Mrs T. Wright, Stilton Fen; husband of Mary M. Wright, of Church Street, Stilton
Remembered: Thiepval Memorial,Somme, France. Pier 11A and 11D.

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Named in St Mary's church but not on the War Memorial

Bates, Charles William
Private G/13116 6th Battalion, The Buffs, (East Kent Regt)
Born: Peterborough, 1875
Presumed Dead: 3rd May 1917, aged 41
Son of William (born Stilton) and Ellen Bates; husband of Daisy Bates
Remembered: Arras Memorial, France. Bay 2.

Hillier, A
No further information known

Hutton, G.A.
No further information known


Named neither in St Mary's church nor on the War Memorial

Allen, Herbert William
Private 45425, 18th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers
Born: Stilton, 1898
Died: 22nd October 1917, aged 18
Son of Henry and Sarah Allen, Middlesex
Remembered: Tyne Cot Memorial, Ypres, Belgium. Panels 54 to 60.

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Briggs, James
Private 52923, 2nd Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’s Own)
Born: Stilton, 1898
Died: 28th March 1918, aged 19
Son of James and Martha Briggs.
Remembered: Brie British Cemetery, The Somme, France. Special memorial 4.

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Cullip, David James
Private 200785, 1st/4th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment
Born: Sawtry, 1882
Died: 26th January 1921, aged 39
Son of George and Mary Cullip.
Buried: Stilton Cemetery

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Eyles, Bertram Alfred
Private PO/16333, Royal Marine Light Infantry
Born: Folksworth, 26th April 1894
Died: H.M.S. Black Prince, Battle of Jutland, 31st May 1916, aged 22
Son of Joseph and Elizabeth Eyles, Addlestone, Surrey.
Remembered: Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 22

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Eyles, Thomas Frederick
Private 104352, 123rd Coy, Machine Gun Corps
Born: Washingley, 1898
Killed in action: 26th September 1917, aged 18
Son of Joseph and Elizabeth Eyles, Addlestone, Surrey.
Buried: Hooge Crater Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium, VII.K.10

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Willis, Frank
Private 82858, 2nd Battalion, London Regiment, Royal Fusiliers.
Born: Stilton, 1898
Assumed dead: 24th April 1918, aged 18
Son of George and Jane Willis, Ramsey
Remembered: Pozieres Memorial,Somme, France. Panels 19 to 21.

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World War 2

Brown, Maurice Walter Dennis
C/JX 351202, H.M.S. Veteran, Royal Navy
Born: Haddon, Hunts, 21st August 1923
Died: 26th September 1942, sunk by U-boat U-404 south of Iceland, aged 19.
Remembered: Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent. Panel 57.2.

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Evans-Evans, Anthony Caron, DFC
Group Captain 19018, 83 Sqdn R.A.F.
Born: Cardiff, 24th January 1902
Died: 21st February 1945, aged 43
Son of Anthony Arthur and Margaret Ann Evans; husband of Joyce Mary Evans-Evans, of Peterborough
Buried: Mierlo War Cemetery, Netherlands. Plot VIII. D.5.

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Evans-Evans, Roland Gwynne
Flight Lieutenant 123750, 2804 Sqn R.A.F.
Killed in action: 2nd October 1944, aged 30
Son of Anthony Arthur and Margaret Ann Evans-Evans; husband of Hilda Evans-Evans, of Stilton, Huntingdonshire
Buried: Leopoldsburg War Cemetery, Limburg, Belgium. Plot VI.D.16.

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Fisher, John Michael
Pilot Officer, 102556. 122 Sqn Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Died: 25th January 1942, aged 23
Son of the Revd Thomas Frederic Fisher, B.A. and Edith Marion Fisher of Llangrove, Herefordshire
Buried: Stilton Cemetery, Grave 87.

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Jinks, Leonard Robert
Able Seaman C\SSX 24672, H.M.S. Pembroke
Killed in action: 8th February 1944
Remembered: Chatham Memorial, Panel 85.
Buried: Stilton Cemetery

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Knighton, George Henry
Gunner 834360, 135 (The Hertfordshire Yeomanry) Field Regt., Royal Artillery
Died: between 11th and 14th February 1942, aged 28
Remembered: Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore, Plot 31.A.8
Grave marked ‘buried near here’.

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Ray, Arthur
Lance Corporal 5891279, 2nd Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment
Died: 5th April 1945, aged 22
Son of Arthur and Maud Ray of Morborne, Huntingdonshire
Remembered: Morborne Cemetery.
Buried: Rheinberg War Cemetery,Plot 12. K.21

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Scotney, Charles
Private 13005477, Pioneer Corps, 75 Coy Auxiliary Military
Born: Denton, 8th November 1896
Died: 17th June 1940 RMS Lancastria, aged 43
Son of Walter and Sarah Lizzie Scotney; husband of Winifred Scotney of Stilton
Remembered: Dunkirk Memorial, Dunkirk, France. Column 154.

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Shaw, Henry Norman
Lieutenant 124181, 1st Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps
Died: 4th March 1942, aged 21
Son of Harry and Kathleen Shaw of Caldecote
Remembered: Heliopolis War Cemetery, Cairo, Egypt. Plot 1.F.27.

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Spriggs, Bert
Lance Sergeant 2351903, Royal Corps of Signals, 54 H.A.A. Regt, R.A., Sig. Sec.
Died: 30th March 1944, aged 30
Son of Charles and Maria Spriggs, Stilton, husband of Joan Spriggs, of Kirby Muxloe, Leicestershire.
Remembered: Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey. Panel 8, Column 1.

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At the going down of the sun

and in the morning

We will remember them