Colne Engaine War Dead

The War Memorial in St Andrew's Church, Colne Engaine, like most others, gives a list of names of men who died in the two World Wars. A list is just a list if there is no knowledge of who the men were and what happened to them.

The History Society is interested in finding out as much as possible about each man in the hope that possibly one day a book could be written for posterity. There seems no rhyme or reason to the names selected, and in searching for those named it became apparent that some other men could have been included. Perhaps they are on a memorial elsewhere. Nevertheless they are part of Colne Engaine history. The table below is made up from information gleaned from the Halstead Gazette newspapers, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the Soldiers Who Died in the Great War CD-ROM (with thanks for help from Richard Goring), and local knowledge.

If anyone has any queries or can provide information about any of the names mentioned below please E-mail Jill Fleming via the Colne Engaine History Society contact form. Any Photographs of the men would be most welcome

WWI Men who are Commemorated on the War Memorial

George A Boreham

Sgt. 250734, 10th Bn Essex Regiment. Born Holton St Mary c1886. Former gamekeeper to Mr Botterell of Colne Park. Killed in action 23 Mar 1918. Commemorated Pozieres Memorial, Somme, France.
Stanley Butcher

Lance-cpl of 5th Suffolk Regiment killed in action Dardanelles 12 or 21 Aug 1915. Aged 25, son of James and Agnes Butcher (formerly of Colne Engaine, lately of Skelmersdale, Lancs.). Commemorated Helles Memorial, Turkey.
Sidney Carter

Private 24614 of 9th Bn Essex Regiment. Born Colne Engaine. Died 3 Jul 1916. Commemorated Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.
Charles Catterwell
or William Charles

Pte 12059 of 3rd Bn Essex Regiment drowned in the Mediterranean on 4th May on his way to Egypt aged 21 years.
Son of Mrs E Turner of North End, Little Yeldham. Prior to enlistment employed by Mr Mann. Commemorated Savona Memorial, Italy.

Stanley M Coppin

Pte 40157 2nd Bn Essex Regiment. Born Greenstead Green c1889 son of George & Emma Coppin. Died 20th Oct 1916. Nephew of Mr & Mrs Lewis of Abbots Farm, CE. Employed by Miss Courtauld. Commemorated Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.
Bertram W Bixey

Driver 207833, 20th Reserve Bty Royal Field Artillery. Born Colne Engaine c1891, a thatcher, son of Mr & Mrs William Bixey, and married to Rosa. Lost appeal in Essex Appeal Tribunal.
Enlisted 5 Feb 1917, died in hospital at Woolwich 4 March 1917 of pneumonia. Buried Colne Engaine.

George Fordham

Private 235740, 13th (Service) (1st Barnsley) Battalion, York & Lancaster Regiment (formerly 2375 of Suffolk Regiment (Cyclists?), was killed in action 7 Oct 1917, France and Flanders. Commemorated Roclincourt Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.
Alfred James Gardner

Pte 43849 1st Bn Royal Berkshire Regiment (ex 305248 Suffolk Yeomanry, killed in action 6 May 1918, France & Flanders. Commemorated Berles New Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France
Douglas Charles Hibble

Able Seaman, J/27502 HMS Mary Rose formerly HMS Crescent. Son of Ellen Hibble born 9 Jul 1897 Colne Engaine, drowned 17 Oct 1917 North Sea. Employed by Mr Jackson. Commemorated Chatham Memorial, Kent.
George Hicks

Driver T4/040354 35th Div. Train, Army Service Corps. Born c1877 died in hospital in France 29 Oct 1918 of pneumonia. Before enlistment worked for Mr Bone, builder and contractor. Commemorated Pont-de-Nieppe Communal Cemetery, Nord, France.
George Quartermain(Sidney George Quartermaine)

Private 67415 Royal Fusiliers posted 2/2 London Regiment formerly 59th Field Bakery. Born Lewknor, Oxfordshire and died 26 October 1917. Commemorated at Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
George Charles Reynolds

Private G/6720 1st Bn The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Born c1895 son of Charles George & Lucy Maria Reynolds. died France 15 Sep 1916. Commemorated at Guillemont Road Cemetery, Guillemont, Somme, France.
Bert Ridgwell

Private 23805, 2nd Bn 9th Essex Regiment. Born Earls Colne son of Mr & Mrs Walter Ridgwell. Killed in action France 9 Jul 1916 and commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.
Ernest Ridgwell

Private 51769, 11th Bn Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment), ex 6758 25th Middlesex (Duke of Cambridge's Own). Born c1877 son of Mr & Mrs Walter Ridgwell. Before enlistment worked at Knights Farm for Miss Courtauld as a horseman and ploughman. Died of wounds 21 Oct 1917 in France. Commemorated Dozinghem Military Cemetery, Westvleteren, Poperinge, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
Harry George Smith
(Plaque says
Henry W Smith)

Private 45166, 37th (Labour) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment). Resident Colne Engaine. died of wounds 11 Oct 1916 and commemorated Longueval Road Cemetery, Somme, France.
Ernest Wakeling

Private 10740, 9th Essex Regiment. Born Colne Engaine c1897 son of George and Sarah Wakeling. Died of wounds 22 Oct 1915 in France. Commemorated at Lillers Communal Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.
Percy G Wakeling

Private 10213, 2nd Bn, Essex Regiment. Born c1895 Colne Engaine, son of George and Sarah Wakeling. Died of wounds 6 Jan 1915. Commemorated at Bailleul Communal Cemetery, Nord, France.
Frederick Willsher

Private G/66351 4th Bn Royal Fusiliers. Born c1885. Killed in action 8 October 1918 in France. Commemorated at Forenville Military Cemetery, Nord, France.
Frank James Wright

Private 250847, 5th Bn Essex Regiment. Born c1897 son of James and Mary Emily Wright. Killed in action 26 Mar 1917 in Palestine. Commemorated at Gaza War Cemetery, Israel.

World War II Men who are Commemorated on the Plaque
John Louie Colclough Watson

Midshipman (S) HMS Repulse, Royal Navy. Born c1922 son of GeraJd and Mary Watson of Bromptons. Died 10 bDec 1941 and commemorated at Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon.
Edward Cotterill
Scholefield

Flying Officer 63211, 612 Sqdn, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Born c1908 son of Ernest and Mary Scholefield of Colne Engaine. Died 25 bec 1941 and commemorated at Runnymede Memorial, Surrey.

World War I Men with Colne Engaine connection but not on the plaque
Sidney Carter

Private 24614, 9th Bn Essex Regiment. Born Colne Engaine. bied 3 Jul 1916. Commemorated at Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.
Percy Edgar Bixey

Private 270201, Hertfordshire Regiment. Born Colne Engaine son of Edwin Arthur and Maria Elizabeth Bixey of Valiant's Farm, Pebmarsh. Killed in action 3 July 1917 and commemorated at Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.
Scott Fairbank

Private G/1278 "B" Coy, 2nd Bn Royal Sussex Regiment. Born Colne Engaine son of Mr & Mrs Alfred Fairbank. Killed in action, British Expeditionary Force, 26 January 1915 aged 21 years. Commemorated at Woburn Abbey Cemetery, Cuinchy, Pas de Calais, France.
Raymond George Fulcher Lane

Driver 77398 No.2 Airline Sect, Royal Engineers. Born Colne Engaine son of Frederick and Alethea Lane (schoolmaster). Died Salonika 10 November 1918 aged 24 years and commemorated at Mikra British Cemetery, Kalamaria, Greece.
Tom Smith

Private 56035, 10th Bn Royal Welsh Fusiliers, formerly 32150 Essex Regiment. Born Colne Engaine the son of Mrs E Smith (latterly of Southend). Killed in action 27 February 1917 and commemorated at Beaurains Road Cemetery, Beaurains, Pas de Calais, France.

World War II Men with Colne Engaine connection but not on the Plaque
Rupert Mortimer Legge

Major 52468 Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment). Born c1912. Husband of Anne Edith Adam of Colne Park, Colne Engaine. died 5 Sep 1944 and commemorated Gradara War Cemetery, Italy.
Ronald Wilfred Symonds

Private 2141296 Army Catering Corps. ied 19 Oct 1944 aged 32 years. Husband of Greta Symonds. Buried Colne Engaine churchyard. Commemorated War Memorial, Trinity Street Public Gardens, Halstead, Essex.