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FIRST WORLD WAR

In memory of

Edward Charles Skinner

(Wimpole)

Private 15628. 7th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment.

Born: (New) Wimpole, Cambridgeshire.
Enlisted: Cambridge, 5 October 1914.
Died: Wednesday 9th August 1916, aged 25.
How died: Killed in action.
Theatre of War: France and Flanders.

Photographs kindly loaned by Brenda and Michael Skinner.

Eddie was the son of Charles and Ellen Skinner of New Wimpole, Cambridgeshire. The photograph above shows the Skinner Family, photographed at the Wayman's house at 68 Cambridge Road around 1912. Eddie (front right) was brother to Frank Skinner and Harry Skinner, who are also listed on the War Memorial.

"Private Edward Charles (Eddie) Skinner of the Suffolk Regiment, eldest son of Mr and Mrs C Skinner, of New Wimpole, was reported Missing on August 9th 1916, and it was not until a year later he was reported killed on that day. Private Skinner, who was 24 years of age, joined the Army on October 5th 1914. He was sent back to Cundall's Munitions Works, where he had been employed, in August 1915, but was recalled in June of the following year and sent out to France on 6th July. A memorial service was held in Wimpole Church on Sunday, September 23rd 1917. This is the second son Mr and Mrs Skinner have lost, Private Frank Skinner having been killed on July 1st 1916." (Herts and Cambs Reporter November 16th 1917)

1901 Census*:

Charles Ed[ward] SKINNER	Head	M	41	Labourer (Gardens Domestic)	Wimpole, Cambridgeshire
Ellen SKINNER	Wife	M	36	-	Barrington, Cambridgeshire
Margaret SKINNER	Daughter	S	11	Scholar	Wimpole, Cambridgeshire
Edward Cha[rle]s SKINNER	Son	S	9	Scholar	Wimpole, Cambridgeshire
Frank SKINNER	Son	S	6	Scholar	Barrington, Cambridgeshire
Harry SKINNER	Son	S	3	-	Wimpole, Cambridgeshire
Arthur John SKINNER	Son	W	11m	-	Barrington, Cambridgeshire

* It would appear from the family photograph that Charles and Ellen had two further daughters after the date of the census.

Memorial: Pier and Face 1C and 2A, Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

The Thiepval Memorial commemorates almost 73,000 soldiers who died on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and 20th March 1918 who have no known grave. A high proportion of the names at Thiepval are soldiers who died on 1st July 1916 – the first day of the Battle of the Somme. Located at one of the key sites on the Somme battlefield, it was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and was unveiled in 1932 by the Prince of Wales.

Edward C Skinner is also commemorated (under the badge of the Suffolk Regiment) on the gravestone of his father C E Skinner, in Wimpole Churchyard.

In memory of

Frank Skinner

(Wimpole)

Private 13644. 11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment.

Born: Wimpole, Cambridgeshire. [1901 census: Barrington]
Enlisted: Cambridge, 8 September 1914.
Died: Saturday 1st July 1916 (First day of the Battle of the Somme), aged 21
How died: Killed in action.
Theatre of War: France and Flanders.

Photographs kindly loaned by Brenda and Michael Skinner.

Frank was the son of Charles and Ellen Skinner of New Wimpole, Cambridgeshire. The photograph above shows the Skinner Family, photographed at the Wayman's house at 68 Cambridge Road around 1912. Frank (back right) was brother to Eddie Skinner and Harry Skinner, who are also listed on the War Memorial.

"Private Frank Skinner, of the Suffolk Regiment, second son of Mr and Mrs C Skinner of Wimpole, joined the colours on September 8th 1914, and went out to the Front on January 8th 1916. In July of the same year news was received through a chum that he was missing, and later, writing again, he said his chum had been killed, but it was not until August 3rd that the War Office intimation of his death, which took place on July 1st, was received. Private Skinner (who was 21 years of age), prior to the war was employed by Mr Hagger, of Cambridge Road Farm, Wimpole. Mr and Mrs Skinner have two other sons serving in the Suffolks, Private E C Skinner and Private H Skinner." (Herts and Cambs Reporter October 13th 1916)

1901 Census*:

Charles Ed[ward] SKINNER	Head	M	41	Labourer (Gardens Domestic)	Wimpole, Cambridgeshire
Ellen SKINNER	Wife	M	36	-	Barrington, Cambridgeshire
Margaret SKINNER	Daughter	S	11	Scholar	Wimpole, Cambridgeshire
Edward Cha[rle]s SKINNER	Son	S	9	Scholar	Wimpole, Cambridgeshire
Frank SKINNER	Son	S	6	Scholar	Barrington, Cambridgeshire
Harry SKINNER	Son	S	3	-	Wimpole, Cambridgeshire
Arthur John SKINNER	Son	W	11m	-	Barrington, Cambridgeshire

* It would appear from the family photograph that Charles and Ellen had two further daughters after the date of the census.

"Of the 750 Cambridgeshire men of the 11th Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment who climbed out of their trenches at 7.30am on 1st July 1916 no less than 691 were killed or wounded on that awful day. . . "

Grave: Plot 10, Row Q, Grave 5.

Cemetery: Gordon Dump Cemetery, Oillers-La Boisselle, Somme, France.

The great majority of the soldiers buried in this cemetery were killed during July 1916 during the battle for the villages of La Boisselle (captured on the 3rd July) and Ovillers (captured on the 17 July). The cemetery commemorates over 1500 war casualties, although over half are unidentified.

Frank Skinner is also commemorated (under the badge of the Suffolk Regiment) on the gravestone of his father C E Skinner, in Wimpole Churchyard.

See also: 11th Battalion Resource site and related list of the
Soldiers Killed on the First Day of the Battle of the Somme.

In memory of

Harry Skinner

(Wimpole)

Private 23312. 7th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment.

Born: Wimpole, Cambridgeshire.
Enlisted: Cambridge (December 1915/January 1916).
Died: Friday 5th April 1918, aged 20.
How died: Killed in action.
Theatre of War: France and Flanders.

Photographs kindly loaned by Brenda and Michael Skinner.

Harry was the son of Charles and Ellen Skinner of New Wimpole, Cambridgeshire. The photograph above shows the Skinner Family, photographed at the Wayman's house at 68 Cambridge Road around 1912. Harry (back centre) was brother to Eddie Skinner and Frank Skinner, who are also listed on the War Memorial.

1901 Census*:

Charles Ed[ward] SKINNER	Head	M	41	Labourer (Gardens Domestic)	Wimpole, Cambridgeshire
Ellen SKINNER	Wife	M	36	-	Barrington, Cambridgeshire
Margaret SKINNER	Daughter	S	11	Scholar	Wimpole, Cambridgeshire
Edward Cha[rle]s SKINNER	Son	S	9	Scholar	Wimpole, Cambridgeshire
Frank SKINNER	Son	S	6	Scholar	Barrington, Cambridgeshire
Harry SKINNER	Son	S	3	-	Wimpole, Cambridgeshire
Arthur John SKINNER	Son	W	11m	-	Barrington, Cambridgeshire

* It would appear from the family photograph that Charles and Ellen had two further daughters after the date of the census.

Memorial: Panel 25, Pozieres Memorial, Somme, France.

The Pozieres Memorial relates to the period of crises in March and April 1918 when the fifth Army was driven back by overwhelming numbers across the former Somme battlefields. The memorial commemorates over 14300 casualties who have no known grave and who fell in France between 21st March and 7th August 1918.

Harry Skinner is also commemorated (under the badge of the Suffolk Regiment) on the gravestone of his father C E Skinner, in Wimpole Churchyard.

In memory of

Frederick Smith

(Arrington)

Private 8246, 1st Battalion, Befordshire Regiment.

Born: Arrington, Cambridgeshire.
Enlisted: Royston, Hertfordshire, (pre-war).
Died: Saturday 14 November 1914.
How died: Killed in action.
Theatre of War: France and Flanders.

1901 Census (Family believed to be):

James SMITH	Head	M	68	Farm Labourer	Arrington, Cambridgeshire
Caroline SMITH	Wife	M	57	-	Arrington, Cambridgeshire
Arthur George SMITH	Son	S	23	Farm Labourer	Arrington, Cambridgeshire
Frederick SMITH	Son	S	18	Farm Labourer	Arrington, Cambridgeshire
Harriett SMITH	Sister	S	67	(General ill-health since childhood)	Arrington, Cambridgeshire

Memorial: Panel 31 and 33, Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

Ypres (now Ieper) is a town in the Province of West Flanders. The Memorial is situated at the eastern side of the town on the road to Menin (Menen) and Courtrai (Kortrijk). Each night at 8.00pm, the traffic is stopped at the Menin Gate while members of the local Fire Brigade sound the Last Post in the roadway under the Memorial's arches.

The Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial was unveiled by Lord Plumer in July 1927.

In memory of

William Wayman

(Wimpole)

Lance Corporal 13658. 11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment.

Photograph kindly loaned by Grace Everson.

Born: Wimpole, Cambridgeshire.
Enlisted: Cambridge, 8th September 1914.
Died: Saturday 1 July 1916 (First day of the Battle of the Somme), aged 20.
How died: Killed in action.
Theatre of War: France and Flanders.

Photograph kindly loaned by Brenda and Michael Skinner.

William was the edest son of Walter and Annie Wayman of New Wimpole, Cambridgeshire. The photograph above shows the Wayman Family, photographed at their house at 68 Cambridge Road around 1912. William is standing behind his father.

"Lance Corporal William Wayman, of the Suffolk Regiment, eldest son of Mr and Mrs W Wayman of Wimpole, was killed in action on July 1st. Lance Corporal Wayman (aged 20 years), was one of the first of the Wimpole lads to respond to the call, and with his chum Private Frank Skinner joined on the 8th September, 1914. He went out to the Front on January 8th, 1916, and was killed on July 1st, the same day as his chum Private Skinner. Before the war he was employed by Mr Anthony, of Thornbury Hill Farm, Wimpole. He came home for short leave on June 12th, 1916, returning on June 18th." (Herts and Cambs Reporter October 13th 1916)

1901 Census*:

Walter WAYMAN	Head	M	26	Yardman on Farm	Wimpole, Cambridgeshire
Elizabeth A[nnie] WAYMAN	Wife	M	28	-	Wimpole, Cambridgeshire
William WAYMAN	Son	S	4	-	Wimpole, Cambridgeshire
George WAYMAN	Son	S	2	-	Wimpole, Cambridgeshire
Walter WAYMAN	Son	S	-	-	Wimpole, Cambridgeshire
Robert HURST	Father-in-Law	W	76	Retired [ex Ag Lab]	Wimpole, Cambridgeshire

* It would appear from the family photograph that Walter and Annie had a further son and three daughters after the date of the census.

Memorial: Pier and Face 1C and 2A, Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

See also: 11th Battalion Resource site and related list of the
Soldiers Killed on the First Day of the Battle of the Somme.

The WW1 servicemen are listed under the Parishes of Arrington or Wimpole as shown on the Cambridgeshire County War Memorial in Ely Cathedral.

These pages were researched by Steve Odell. He would be pleased to add a photograph or any additional family or military information against the names in the individual commemorations. Please contact with details.

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Roll of Honour

The following names are recorded on the
Wimpole and Arrington War Memorial:

1914-1918

Captain The Hon
T.C.R.Agar-Robartes
Coldstream Guards

Private
E.G.Clarke
7th Suffolk Regiment

Private
H.Collin
11th Suffolk Regiment

Private
H.Ingrey
7th Suffolk Regiment

Sergeant
W.Ingrey
1st Bedfordshire Regiment

Private
D.Matthews
11th Suffolk Regiment

Private
J.W.Neaves
5th Kings Shropshire Light Infantry

Private
A.H.Pell
2nd Queens Royal West Surrey

Corporal
C.Pratt
2nd Rifle Brigade

Private
A.F.Reynolds
11th Suffolk Regiment

Private
E.C.Skinner
7th Suffolk Regiment

Private
F.Skinner
11th Suffolk Regiment

Private
H.Skinner
7th Suffolk Regiment

Private
F.Smith
1st Bedfordshire Regiment

Lance Corporal
W.Wayman
11th Suffolk Regiment

Acting Corporal
G.Whetstone
2nd Rifle Brigade

Private
H.Wilkins
11th Suffolk Regiment

Private
F.G.Wisbey
2nd Lincolnshire Regiment

1939-1945

Leading Aircraftwoman
F.E.Allison
W.A.A.F

Private
W.R.Bullen
2nd Cambridgeshire Regiment

Private
J.W.Law
2nd Cambridgeshire Regiment