ID: GWG_WMM / Tony Millatt

TitleWigborough War Memorial
AbstractThe War Memorial in St. Stephen's Parish Church, Great Wigborough. The memorial is alabaster and is in the closed north doorway.

To the Glory of God and in Loving Memory of the soldiers of this Parish who fell in the Great War 1914-1918.
Their Name Liveth for Ever More.

There are nine names from the 1914-1918 War. One name has been added for the 1939-1945 War.

William Potter Bond

He was also known as William Edward Bond, and in his early years was known as William Potter. William lived in Great Wigborough with his grandparents. In 1911 they were at Staffords Corner, and William was a 'working on farm'. He enlisted in Colchester and went to France, serving in 'France and Flanders'. William died of wounds 14 May 1915.
Read more: IYS_078

Charles Godfrey Bonner

Charles was born c1884, son of Matthew and Elizabeth Bonner, farmers at Rouses Farm and later Moulshams, Great Wigborough. He became a tailor, married and when he enlisted in the Coldstream Guards was living in Perry Barr, Birmingham. He was killed in action in France 27 August 1918. He left a wife and a daughter.
Read more: IYS_194

Herbert William Christmas

Herbert was born c1896, son of William John Christmas and Ellen Christmas. William was a carrier. Herbert had emigrated to Canada and enlisted there 15 November 1915 in the Canadian Infantry. He went to the Front, and died 1 March 1917, buried in the Canadian Cemetery, Souchez, France.
Read more: WW1_CHR

Alfred Charles Francis

Alfred was born c1894, son of Alfred and Eliza Francis. They were born in Salcott and Tolleshunt D'Arcy, but by 1911 they were at Sherwin Cottages in Great Wigborough. Alfred was working as a Farm Labourer. He enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery and went overseas with them 23 August 1914. Alfred died 7 June 1917 in the prelude to the Battle of Messines, Flanders, Belgium.
Read more: IYS_154

Frederick Hutley

Frederick was the son of Charles and Rebecca Hutley of Abbotts Hall Farm and later Brick House Farm, Great Wigborough.
He moved to Beccles in Suffolk and by 1911 he was working there as an auctioneer. Frederick enlisted in the Royal Sussex Regiment at Beccles, and was killed in action 30 June 1916 in France. His name is also on the Beccles War Memorial.
Read more: IYS_105

Bertram Alexander Juniper

Bertram was the adopted son of John Linnett Clarke and Selina Clarke. The family lived near Abbotts Hall, and in 1911 Bertram was a Farm Labourer. He enlisted in the Essex Regiment in Colchester and served in France and Flanders. He was killed in action 15 September 1915.
Read more: IYS_092

Frederick James Oxenham

Frederick was born Kings Norton, Birmingham c1895, the son of Frederick and Amelia Oxenham. In the 1901 census they are at Moulshams, Great Wigborough, but 10 years later Frederick J. had retired and the family had moved to West Ham. Frederick was listed as 'Haller and Hosiery Assistant'. He enlisted in the London Regiment, served in France and Flanders, where he died of wounds 23 May 1917.
Read more: IYS_153

Alexander Charles Ponder

Alexander was the son of Charles and Elizabeth Ponder in Wigborough. In 1891 they lived at Hill Farm and Alexander was an agricultural labourer. However, by 1901 he was living with his Uncle Tom and his family in Barking, and Alexander was working with Tom in a gas works. By 1911 the family had all moved to Willenhall, Staffordshire, Tom and Alexander working in the local gas works. Alexander enlisted in the South Staffordshire Regiment. He died of wounds in France 13 October 1915.
Read more: IYS_099

Frederick George Theobald

Frederick George was the son of Rev. Frederick, who had been Rector of Great and Little Wigborough since 1886. Frederick George's mother was Jane Theobald. He qualified as a solicitor and was training for the Bar when he joined Army and went to South Africa in the Boer War. He remained in the regular army, and went to the Front with the Kings Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) 14 August 1914. Frederick was killed in action 26 August 1914.
Great Wigborough Parish Church also has a stained glass window in memory of Frederick.
Read more: IYS_001

1939 - 1945

Peter Darbishire, RAF

Peter was the son of George and Edith Darbishire, born in Sydney NSW in 1913. However his father died in 1914 and after they had returned to England, Edith married Frank Aldred from her home village in Suffolk. By 1929 they had moved to farm at Moulshams, Great Wigborough, where they remained until after WW2. Peter was in the RAF in WW2. He was flying as Wireless Operator in a Whitley bomber when it crashed into the sea 20 miles off Scarborough 16 December 1940, All 5 on board were lost.
Read more: OOD_202

Read More:
Great Wigborough Parish Church

AuthorTony Millatt
Keywordsww1 ww2
PublishedJuly 2020
SourceMersea Museum
IDGWG_WMM