Great Gransden War Memorial, Huntingdonshire

Great Gransden is a typically beautiful East of England village on the Cambridgeshire / Bedfordshire border, technically just inside Huntingdonshire. Although separate from it's sister village by just a road sign, Little Gransden lies firmly within Cambridgeshire. There is no stone war memorial in the village centre as a lych gate was built in the grounds of the church itself, with an additional plaque being placed inside the church building.

The lych gate at the entrance to the Great Gransden church.

One of two stone tablets inside the lych gate.

The top section reads: "1920. This Lych gate was erected in memory of the men of this Parish who fell in the Great War of 1914 - 1919"

The bottom section reads: "1948. This stone was laid in memory of the men of this Parish who fell in the World War 1939 - 1945"

The second stone tablet inside the lych gate, listing the names of the fallen from Great Gransden.

Inside the church is a brass plaque recording the men from the village who served in both wars in addition to those who fell.

The fallen of Great Gransden

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Private 1525 G. C. CHAPLIN

17th Battalion, Australian Infantry

Killed in action 27th August 1915, Gallipoli.

Emigrated to Australia looking for a better life in 1914, but after a few weeks volunteered to fight for 'the old country'. He has no known grave but is remembered on the Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli.

Private 10723 Fred COLE

4th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers.

Died of wounds 18th September 1916, aged 22.

Fred was born in Great Gransden and enlisted at Tetworth Hall, Bedordshire, initially serving as Private 25441 in the Bedfordshire Regiment.

In a letter to his parents regarding his death, the Sister who tended him in hospital wrote "He was admitted to this hospital on the night of the 16th, very badly wounded in the left thigh. The leg was amputated, and everything possible was done for him, but the injuries had been too extensive, and his condition so grave, that he never really rallied, and, as you have already heard, passed away on the morning of the 18th."

He was the son of John and Alice Cole, of New Row in Great Gransden and lies in the Etaples military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.

Lance Corporal 14545 Frederick George Reginald COLE

8th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment.

Killed in action 26th September 1916.

2nd Corporal 129436 Harold Arthur CROSS

No. 2 Special Company, Royal Engineers.

Died of wounds 10th April 1918, aged 21.

Lieutenant (Acting Captain) Richard Douglas CROSSMAN, M.C.

3rd Battalion, Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment).

Killed in action 27th September 1918, aged 22.

Lance Corporal 30248 Walter Ernest DANIELS

14th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment.

Died of wounds 21st October 1918, aged 20.

Lance Corporal 33032 Herbert Arthur DICKINSON [Dickenson]

8th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment.

Killed in action 21st March 1918, aged 34.

Private 28015 Frederick ELLWOOD

2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment.

Died of wounds 23rd October 1918, aged 38.

Private 30166 Ernest FORD

14th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment.

Killed in action 3rd September 1916.

Private 28344 Albert HURST

7th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment.

Killed in action 23rd March 1915 (according to CWGC) or 1917 (according to SDGW), aged 33.

Sergeant 6555 Septimus LONG

5th Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.

Killed in action 3rd May 1917.

Private 25062 Fred J. MEDLOCK

8th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment.

Killed in action 31st October 1916, aged 27.

Private G/78451 Reginald George MEDLOCK

24th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers.

Killed in action 28th September 1918, aged 19.

Lance Corporal 3/8256 Harry MEDLOCK

8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment.

Killed in action 15th September 1916.

Private 30165 Charlie MILTON

14th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment.

Killed in action 7th May 1917.

Private 16884 William George MILTON

8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment.

Killed in action 12th March 1916, aged 23.

Also served and returned

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