Byfleet Heritage Society

Byfleet's War Memorials


Byfleet, like so many other towns and villages throughout these Islands, has memorials to those local residents lost in the two World Wars. With the centenary of the start of the First World War in 2014 we have decided to add details of our memorials to the web site.

Although West Byfleet has its own memorials, shown here, the village was a part of Byfleet Parish until 1917, hence those from West Byfleet also appear on the Byfleet memorial.

We are very keen to find out more about the people of Byfleet who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country and would welcome any information that you can send to us.

We include the following memorials and are always to keen to hear of any others locally-
.Byfleet Village Memorial
.Memorials in St. Mary's Church, Byfleet
.Memorial in St. Mary's Primary School (now the Centre for the Community)
.West Byfleet Village Memorial
.Memorials in St. John's Church, West Byfleet

Byfleet Village Memorial

Byfleet's memorial was opened in 1928 on the site of the former village pound. Money was raised by public subscription and it was built by WG Tarrant.

The wording on the memorial reads as follows-

THIS MEMORIAL WAS ERECTED
TO THE GLORY OF GOD
AND IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THE MEN OF
THE PARISH OF BYFLEET
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR
NOT GRUDGINGLY OR OF NECESSITY
BUT THAT TRUTH AND JUSTICE MIGHT PREVAIL

and at the foot of the memorial-
WE GRATEFULLY HONOUR AND REMEMBER THESE NAMES
THE MEN OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE WHO WERE KILLED IN ACTION OR DIED
OF WOUNDS DURING
THE GREAT WAR NUMBERED 908,371




NB
The column X denotes the presence (Y) or absence (N) of a wooden cross in St. Mary's Church.

These crosses were brought back from France and serve as a tribute to all those lost in the Great War.

...
NameXBackground
Christopher A Allin NInformation needed.
William G C Ardrey NWilliam George Clair Rifleman (315086)5th Battalion attached to 9th Battalion (Queen Victoria’s Rifles), London Regiment. Died 23rd March 1918, aged 18; Buried: (?) (Information needed). Commemorated: Pozieres Memorial [Panel 86] Son of William & Margaret Ardrey, of Hatchford End, Cobham
G Spearman Armstrong NInformation needed
Edwin T Axtell NInformation needed.
Thomas Agnew Baldock YLieutenant (-)8th Battalion, Rifle Brigade. Died: 3rd December 1917, aged 21 Buried: Ypres Reservoir Cemetery [III.A.6] Son of Frederick Agnew & Emily Harriet Baldock, of Courtlands Cottage, Lostwithiel, Cornwall
Thomas Batten NInformation needed.
Albert Batten NInformation needed.
Frank Beer YPrivate (45905) 15th Labour Coy, transferred to 123rd Coy, Labour Corps, Queen’s Regiment. Died 4th October 1917, aged (?). Buried: Bedford House Cemetery [Enclosure 21.D.18]
Francis G Benson YCorporal (25050) 2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers. Died: 21st October 1916, aged 36 Buried: Bancourt British Cemetery [IX.K.20] Husband of H T Benson of 22 Council Cottages, Byfleet.
Archie S Buckle YArchie Stewart Brigadier General 17th Division, Royal Artillery. Died 18th August 1916, aged 47 Buried: Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt l’Abbe [II.F.23] Son of Archibald Lewis Buckle (Captain, Royal Engineers) and husband of the late Mildred Louisa Buckle.
George H W Budd N Information needed.
Frederick BurdettN Information needed.
George Chuter NRifleman (47630) 2/10th Battalion, Rifle Brigade. Died: 11th September 1918, aged (?) Buried: (?). Commemorated: Vis-en-Artois Memorial [Panel 10] Formerly 6744 RFC.
William C CogginsN Information needed.
Henry E Coker YPrivate (S/6953) 8th Battalion, Queen’s Regiment. Died 25th November 1915, aged (?). Buried: Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery [II.D.12A]
Thomas Denly NPrivate (20396) 1st Garrison Battalion, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. Died: 8th March 1916, aged 39 Buried: (?). Commemorated: Kirkee 1914-1918 Memorial Son of William & Susan Denley, and husband of Alice Mary Denley (formerly Backhurst?)
Charles Digby YSecond Lieutenant (-) 123rd Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Died 10th July 1918, aged 37 Buried: Caberet-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez [VIII.K.21] Son of James and Maria Digby of Felstead, Essex.
Frank M EvansN Information needed.
Sidney E Evans YSidney Ernest Private (T/240546) 1/5th Queen’s Regiment. Died 17th December 1917, aged (?) Buried: Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery [XIII.D.9] Son of Mr & Mrs Evans, Hollick’s Cottages, Oyster Lane, Byfleet. Died of pneumonia in Baghdad Hospital
James FrancisY Corporal (33010) 1st Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Died 10th November 1917, aged 33 Buried: Windmill British Cemetery, Monchey-le-Preux [I.F.17] Husband of M G Francis of 12 Binfield Road, Byfleet.
Percy A Freeland YPercy Alfred Corporal (G/19122) 1st Battalion, Buff’s (East Kent). Died 17th July 1918, aged (?) Buried: Abeele Aerodrome Military Cemetery [II.B.9] Only son of Mr & Mrs T H Freeland, of Byfleet.
N W Bernard Gilpin NInformation needed.
Albert J Gregory NInformation needed.
Edward J Hastings YEdward Jhue Private (G/62764) 7th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. Died: 30th October 1917, aged (?) Buried: Poeicapelle British Cemetery Son of Mr & Mrs Hastings, of Binfield Road, Byfleet
John H Heath NInformation needed.
James W Heather NJames William Private (L/8980) 2nd Battalion, Queen’s Regiment. Died: 27th October 1914, aged 34 Buried: (?). Commemorated: Menin Gate, Ypres [Panels 11-13 & 14] Son of Mr & Mrs Heather, of Jordon’s Crossings, Woking.
Percy Higgs NRifleman (2143) 1st/21st Battalion London Regiment (First Surrey Rifles). Died: 26th May 1915,aged 21. Buried: (?). Commemorated: Le Touret Memorial [Panel 45] Son of Daniel & Caroline Higgs, of Lorna Cottage, Byfleet.
C F G Hollis NInformation needed.
B E Hoskyns-Abrahall NInformation needed.
James Howard NInformation needed.
Charles L King NInformation needed.
F Graham Littleboy NInformation needed.
Alfred Mace NInformation needed.
Eric R Mackay NInformation needed.
Sidney Maidment NInformation needed.
Albert Mandeville NInformation needed.
Maurice M Matcham NMaurice Martin Rifleman (375782) 8th Post Office Rifles, posted to 28th Battalion, London Regiment. Died: 25th March 1918, aged (?) Buried: (?). Commemorated: Arras Memorial [Bay 10].
Richard Trelawny May NRichard Trelawny Captain 7th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Died: 7th July 1916, aged 26 Buried: (?). Commemorated: Thiepval Memorial [Pier, & Face 7C] Son of Charles Gibbons & Katherine Frances May, of 49 Lincoln’s Inn Fields and Pine Lodge, Weybridge. Educated at Allen House, Guildford; Hillside, Godalming; Winchester; and Balliol College, Oxford. 2nd Class Jurisprudence. An articled clerk. Served from August 1914..
Edwin J Morrish YEdwin John Corporal (48482) 1/28th Battalion, Rifle Brigade. Died 1st June 1918, aged (?) Buried: Varennes Military Cemetery [III.E.10] Son of H J Morrish.
Walter T Penfold YWalter T. (Lance)Corporal (206452) 2/4th Battalion, Queen’s Regiment. Died 27the December 1917, aged 21 Buried: Jerusalem War Cemetery [S.124] Son of Mr & Mrs C Penfold, of 58 Ludlow Road, Guildford.
Bertram E Punter YBertram Ernest Private (703222) 23rd Battalion, London Regiment. Died 9th October 1917, aged 19 Buried: Albuera Cemetery, Bailleul-Sire-Berthoult [North B.4] Son of William Frederick and L.N. Punter, of 1 Binfield Road, Byfleet.
Harry Punter NInformation needed.
Herbert D Ralph NHerbert Daniel Private (6314) 9th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. Died: 26th September 1915, aged 20 Buried: (?). Commemorated: Loos Memorial [Panel 65 to 67] Son of William J & Emily Ralph, of Oaks Cottage, Kingsway, Woking.
William J Ralph YWilliam John Private (17253) 10th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. Died 19th July 1916, aged 26 Buried: Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt l’Abbe [II.D.12] Son of William J. & Emily Ralph, of Oak Cottage, Kingsway, Woking. Born at Binstead, Hampshire.
Arthur Roberts NArthur Doricourt Lieutenant Royal Flying Corps. Died: 31st August 1917. Buried: St Mary’s Churchyard.[Near East Boundary]
Born 1894, he was KIFA whilst flying a Martinsyde G100 “Elephant” #7463. The aircraft apparently caught fire in the air when on “Bomb Test” and crashed near Hanworth.
Robert Skeet NInformation needed.
Herbert J Sibley YOr is it Herbert C?
Herbert Charles Sibley. Lance Corporal Service No. 7968 Northamptonshire Regt. 1st. Bn. Killed in action France Flanders on 11/10/1915. Aged 26 years. Buried Dud Corner Cemetery Loos grave ref. V11. G, 13. Son of Jeannette Elliott (widow) of Byfleet.
Frank Smith NInformation needed.
Ernest E Smith NErnest Edward Private (L/9503) 2nd Battalion, Queen’s Regiment. Died: 8th November 1914, aged 28 Buried: (?). Commemorated: Menin Gate, Ypres [Panel 11-13 & 14] Son of Isaac & Eliza Smith, of Byfleet.
George L Steadman YGeorge Leslie Private (17876) 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards. Died 22nd July 1917, aged 23 Buried: Canada Farm Cemetery [I.E.35] Son of Benjamin & Mary Steadman, of 5 Grove Cottages, Chertsey Road, Byfleet.
W Leonard Sutton NInformation needed.
Sidney A Sutton NInformation needed.
Stephen R Stevens NInformation needed.
Percival J Tarrant NInformation needed.
A George Tomkins NInformation needed.
Clifford W Tooley NInformation needed.
George C Turle NInformation needed.
Arthur Turner YInformation needed.
Percy Turner YPercy Private (40972) 6th Labour Coy. transferred (678323) to 114th Coy, Labour Corps, Queen’s Regiment. Died 15th August 1917, aged 30 Buried: The Huts Cemetery [III.A.3] Son of Walter & Elizabeth Ellen Turner, of Byfleet.
Leonard Vincent NInformation needed.
William H Warter NInformation needed.
J Gordon Warter NInformation needed.
Cyril F E West NInformation needed.
Arthur White NArthur Reynold Private (T/2185) 1/5th Queen’s Regiment. Died: 25th June 1915, aged 33 Buried: Lucknow Cantonment Military Cemetery. Commemorated: Madras 1914-1918 Memorial, Chennai [Face 7] Son of William & Mary Ann White, of 60 Peach Street, Wokingham, Berkshire.
Frederick W Whiterod NInformation needed.
Henry Wickens NInformation needed.
John Woodhams YJohn Private (14605) 8th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment, Died 18th July 1918, aged (?) Buried: (?).
Walter Woodruff YWalter Private (10543) 1st Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment. Died 17th July 1916, aged 34 Buried: Puchevillers British Cemetery [I.E.17] Son of Mrs Woodruff, of Sanway Road, Byfleet.
Robin Woodward N1st Battalion Hampshire regiment. Rank: Private. Reg.No 11188: Age 21: Date of death 13/5/1915: Cemetery Ypres Menin Gate panel 35: Brother of F.A. Woodward, Minorca Road. Weybridge, Surrey.




1939-45
There are two additional panels to commemorate those who fell in 1939-45

1939-45












Memorials in St. Mary's Church, Byfleet

NAMES ON THE WAR MEMORIAL IN THE CHURCH
(Located on the west wall)
1914 + 1918
IN MEMORY OF
THE MEN OF BYFLEET
WHO DIED FOR THEIR COUNTRY IN THE GREAT WAR

WILLIAM G C ARDREY
THOMAS A BALDOCK
FRANK BEER
FRANCIS G BENSON
ARCHIE S BUCKLE
GEORGE CHUTER
HENRY E COKER
THOMAS DENLEY
CHARLES DIGBY
SIDNEY E EVANS
JAMES FRANCIS
PERCY A FREELAND
ALBERT J GREGORY
EDWARD J HASTINGS
JOHN H HEATH
JAMES W HEATHER
PERCY HIGGS
JAMES HOWARD
MAURICE M MATCHAM
RICHARD T MAY
EDWIN J MORRISH
WALTER T PENFOLD
BERTRAM E PUNTER
HARRY PUNTER
HERBERT D RALPH
WILLIAM J RALPH
ARTHUR D ROBERTS
HERBERT C SIBLEY
ERNEST E SMITH
GEORGE L STEADMAN
ARTHUR TURNER
PERCY TURNER
ARTHUR WHITE
JOHN WOODHAMS
WALTER WOODRUFF
ROBIN WOODWARD

“THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE”
REMEMBER ALSO WITH THANKSGIVING THOSE
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE WORLD WAR
1939 – 1945

JOHN C BEARDMORE
WILLIAM J BENNELL
REGINALD BURGESS
IRENE COLEMAN
HENRY J COLLIER
GWENDOLINE GODDARD
WILLIAM G HADDRELL
REGINALD F HOPPER
WILLIAM D JONES
HOWARD MORAN
HUGH A SIBBALD
DOROTHY SMITH
PERCY SMITHERS
ARTHUR WOODWARD

NB: The following died as a result of the German air raid on the Vickers-Armstrong aircraft factory at Brooklands carried out on 4th September 1940:
IRENE COLEMAN
GWENDOLINE GODDARD
DOROTHY SMITH
ARTHUR WOODWARD



Memorial from St. Mary's Primary School
(now the Centre for the Community).
This is now in the Primary School in Hart Road.

ST MARY’S SCHOOL WAR MEMORIAL

TO THE GLORY OF GOD
&
IN PROUD AND EVER GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE
THE FOLLOWING NAMES OF OLD BOYS
OF BYFLEET CHURCH OF ENGLAND SCHOOL
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR KING & EMPIRE
IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-18
ARE HEREBY AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED




NameNameNameName
William Ardrey John Heath Bertram Punter Sidney Sutton
Frederick Burdett James Heather Harry Punter Arthur Turner
George Chuter Percy Higgs Herbert Ralph Percy Turner
Thomas Denly Alfred Mace William Ralph Arthur White
Sidney Evans Albert Mandeville Herbert Sibley Gerald Whitlock
James Francis Maurice Matcham Robert Skeet John Woodhams
Percy Freeland Edwin Morrish Ernest Skeet Walter Woodruff
Albert Gregory Walter Penfold Leslie Steadman



West Byfleet Village Memorial





































Those who fell in World War I





































Those who fell in World War II




Memorials within St. John's Church, West Byfleet
There are two panels inside the church to commemorate those who fell in the two World Wars






















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