Duddington War Memorials – WWI & WWII
There are at least three extant “War Memorials” in Duddington (Northants):
Author's Note: Genealogical study is rather similar to the number crunching required for Accountancy Book-Keeping - as you are not sure what you have until all the particulars have been logically (and carefully) extracted from the masses of amorphous data. Indeed, the very nature of unprocessed data can be daunting and lead to vital information not being discovered and/or realised. Therefore, sifting through amorphous genealogical data, despite being time-consuming, is an investment which often guarantees that certain gems of discovery are revealed. The work of Ernie Rusdale for example, reveals that four of the six casualties listed on the main WWI Duddington Monument do not appear to have any direct association with the village - but as their names are mentioned on the other two "Rolls of Honour" - it can be assumed that everyone in Duddington assumed these men were "local" in some sort of capacity. What we have unearthed is the probable family connection (possibly father and son) between "George Gerald Thoday" (who survived service during WWI as a "Private" in the "Garrison Artillery") and "George Henry Thoday" who was killed in Africa (Tunisia) in 1943 during WWII serving in the 6th Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment. Indeed, "George Henry Thoday" is the only casualty from Duddington for WWII - with no other Monuments existing for the 1939-1945 Conflict in the village.
ACW (27.7.2025)
ACW (27.7.2025)
1) WWI & WWII Stone Plinth, Column and Cross – Grade II Listed Building
Location: Mill Street, (opposite) St. Mary's Churchyard North Gate. Duddington, Stamford, PE9 3QG, England
Inscription Reads:
IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF/ THOSE WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1918
WWI (1914-1918) Names:
Cheese, William Gerard
Jackson, Nicholas William Goddard
Payne, Ernest
Walker, Edgar
Walker, Herbert
Walker, William
WWII (1939-1945) Name:
Thoday, George Henry
See: DUDDINGTON WAR MEMORIAL - World War 1 & 2 - Roll of Honour with detailed information - Compiled and copyright © 2004 Ernie Rusdale for more details
Location: Mill Street, (opposite) St. Mary's Churchyard North Gate. Duddington, Stamford, PE9 3QG, England
Inscription Reads:
IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF/ THOSE WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1918
WWI (1914-1918) Names:
Cheese, William Gerard
Jackson, Nicholas William Goddard
Payne, Ernest
Walker, Edgar
Walker, Herbert
Walker, William
WWII (1939-1945) Name:
Thoday, George Henry
See: DUDDINGTON WAR MEMORIAL - World War 1 & 2 - Roll of Honour with detailed information - Compiled and copyright © 2004 Ernie Rusdale for more details
2) WWI Roll of Honour (Prayer List) – South Wall (Interior) St Mary’s Church
Inscription: Roll of Honour Fight the good fight.... 1. Tim. vi. 12.
A PRAYER FOR THE SAILORS AND SOLDIERS OF THE KING
ALMIGHTY Lord God, the Father and Protector of all that trust/ in Thee: We commend to Thy Fatherly goodness the men who/ through perils of war are serving this nation; Beseeching Thee/ to take into Thine own hand both them and the cause wherein their/ King and Country send them. Grant them the victory in Thine/ own good time. Be Thou their strength when they are set in/ the midst of so many and great dangers. Make all bold through death or life to/ put their trust in Thee, who art the only giver of victory, and canst save by many/ or by few; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
YOUR PRAYERS ARE ASKED ON BEHALF OF THE FOLLOWING - NOW SERVING THEIR KING AND COUNTRY
Dolby John – Private - 6th Lincs Reg
Epton Harry – Stoker - HMS Swift
Jackson Francis Goddard – Captain – 3rd Northants Reg
Jackson Nichaols Wlillam Goddard RIP – 2nd Lieut - 3rd Northants Reg
Robinson John Henry – Private – Army Service Corps
Sanders John Charles – Private – 4th Lincs Terrotrial Reserve
Smith John Thomas – Private - 6th Lincs Reg
Walker Edgar RIP – Private - 3rd Northants Reg
Walker Willian RIP – Private – 8th Lics Territorial Reserve
Wyles Frederick – Private – 6th Lincs Reg
Cheese William Gerard – Chaplain (Army)
Harris William Frederick – Private – Lincs Yeomanry
Clarke Ernest – Corporal – 3/5 West York Reg
Dolby Augustus – Private – C/Company 8th Battalion Northants Reg
Payne Earnest William – Private – 6th Sussex Reg
Thoday George Gerald – Private – Garrison Artillary
Smith Samuel – Gunner – R.G.A
Stearne Ernest Charles – Private – M.T.A.S.C
Seymour Francis Herbert – Private – 13th Reg Queens Own West Surrey
Dolby Frederick – Private – A.S.C
Hind George HC – Private – E.A.R,E
Black John – Private – R.G.A
Tweed John Henry – Gunner – R.G.A
Pickering Cyril – Private – 8th Lincs Reg
Manton George – Private – 4th Bat Northants Reg
Roberts Samuel – Private – 1st Herts Reserve Reg
Winkles Joseph – Private 6th Northants Reg
Wyles John William – Private – Bedfordshire Reg
Smith Reginald – Private – Training Reg Bat
Sharpe Ira – Private – M.T.A.S.C
Kirk Fred – Private – D Company 3rd Northants Reg
Manton John Thomas – Driver – A.S.C Bat
Epton Eardley – Private – Notts Derby Reg
Stubley Arthor Thomas – Gunner – R.G.A
Also for the following members of/ Families who belong/ to this Parish./ (Names)/ (Printers name and address)
Jackson Gerald Goddard – Captain – Ox & Bucks Light Infantry
Smith Albert Victor – Private – King’s Own Yorks 1st Infantry
Robinson Fred – Private – Leicester Yeomanry
Smith William Brown – Sergeant – 3rd Lincs Reg
Stumbley John Henry – Sergeant – Leicester Territorials
Birch Albert George – Private – 1/3 Hunts Cyclist Bats
Payne Joseph Lewis – Private – 49th Remount Squadron
Robinson Earnest – Gunner – 8th Reserve Brigade R.H.A K Bat D Lincs
Inscription: Roll of Honour Fight the good fight.... 1. Tim. vi. 12.
A PRAYER FOR THE SAILORS AND SOLDIERS OF THE KING
ALMIGHTY Lord God, the Father and Protector of all that trust/ in Thee: We commend to Thy Fatherly goodness the men who/ through perils of war are serving this nation; Beseeching Thee/ to take into Thine own hand both them and the cause wherein their/ King and Country send them. Grant them the victory in Thine/ own good time. Be Thou their strength when they are set in/ the midst of so many and great dangers. Make all bold through death or life to/ put their trust in Thee, who art the only giver of victory, and canst save by many/ or by few; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
YOUR PRAYERS ARE ASKED ON BEHALF OF THE FOLLOWING - NOW SERVING THEIR KING AND COUNTRY
Dolby John – Private - 6th Lincs Reg
Epton Harry – Stoker - HMS Swift
Jackson Francis Goddard – Captain – 3rd Northants Reg
Jackson Nichaols Wlillam Goddard RIP – 2nd Lieut - 3rd Northants Reg
Robinson John Henry – Private – Army Service Corps
Sanders John Charles – Private – 4th Lincs Terrotrial Reserve
Smith John Thomas – Private - 6th Lincs Reg
Walker Edgar RIP – Private - 3rd Northants Reg
Walker Willian RIP – Private – 8th Lics Territorial Reserve
Wyles Frederick – Private – 6th Lincs Reg
Cheese William Gerard – Chaplain (Army)
Harris William Frederick – Private – Lincs Yeomanry
Clarke Ernest – Corporal – 3/5 West York Reg
Dolby Augustus – Private – C/Company 8th Battalion Northants Reg
Payne Earnest William – Private – 6th Sussex Reg
Thoday George Gerald – Private – Garrison Artillary
Smith Samuel – Gunner – R.G.A
Stearne Ernest Charles – Private – M.T.A.S.C
Seymour Francis Herbert – Private – 13th Reg Queens Own West Surrey
Dolby Frederick – Private – A.S.C
Hind George HC – Private – E.A.R,E
Black John – Private – R.G.A
Tweed John Henry – Gunner – R.G.A
Pickering Cyril – Private – 8th Lincs Reg
Manton George – Private – 4th Bat Northants Reg
Roberts Samuel – Private – 1st Herts Reserve Reg
Winkles Joseph – Private 6th Northants Reg
Wyles John William – Private – Bedfordshire Reg
Smith Reginald – Private – Training Reg Bat
Sharpe Ira – Private – M.T.A.S.C
Kirk Fred – Private – D Company 3rd Northants Reg
Manton John Thomas – Driver – A.S.C Bat
Epton Eardley – Private – Notts Derby Reg
Stubley Arthor Thomas – Gunner – R.G.A
Also for the following members of/ Families who belong/ to this Parish./ (Names)/ (Printers name and address)
Jackson Gerald Goddard – Captain – Ox & Bucks Light Infantry
Smith Albert Victor – Private – King’s Own Yorks 1st Infantry
Robinson Fred – Private – Leicester Yeomanry
Smith William Brown – Sergeant – 3rd Lincs Reg
Stumbley John Henry – Sergeant – Leicester Territorials
Birch Albert George – Private – 1/3 Hunts Cyclist Bats
Payne Joseph Lewis – Private – 49th Remount Squadron
Robinson Earnest – Gunner – 8th Reserve Brigade R.H.A K Bat D Lincs
3) WWI Engraved Metal Plaque “Men Who Served” West Wall (Interior) St Mary’s Church
Inscription: Roll of Honour Men of This Perish Who Served in His Majesty’s Forces During the War of 1914-1918
WWI Names:
Jackson Francis Edwin Goddard
Jackson Nicholas William Goddard RIP
Cheese William Gerard RIP
Dolby John
Dolby Joseph Augustus
Gregg Samuel
Harris William Frederick
Hind George Hallam Compton
Sanders John Charles
Smith John Thomas
Walker Edgar RIP
Walker William RIP
Walker Herbert RIP
Wyles Frederick
Black John
Dolby Frederick
Epton Eardley
Kirk Fred
Manton George
Payne Ernest William RIP
Pickering Cyril
Roberts Samuel
Seymour Francies Herbert
Sharpe Ira John
Smith Reginald
Smith Samuel
Stearne Ernest Charles
Thoday George Gerrald
Winkles Joseph
Wyles John William
Inscription: Also the Following Members of Families Belonging to this Parish
Birch Albert George
Clarke Ernest
Epton Harry
Jackson Gerald Goddard
Munton John Thomas
Payne Joseph Lewis
Robinson John Henry
Robinson Ernest
Robinson Fred
Smith Albert Victor
Smith William Brown
Stubley John Henry
Stubley Arthor Thomas
Tweed John Henry
Inscription: Roll of Honour Men of This Perish Who Served in His Majesty’s Forces During the War of 1914-1918
WWI Names:
Jackson Francis Edwin Goddard
Jackson Nicholas William Goddard RIP
Cheese William Gerard RIP
Dolby John
Dolby Joseph Augustus
Gregg Samuel
Harris William Frederick
Hind George Hallam Compton
Sanders John Charles
Smith John Thomas
Walker Edgar RIP
Walker William RIP
Walker Herbert RIP
Wyles Frederick
Black John
Dolby Frederick
Epton Eardley
Kirk Fred
Manton George
Payne Ernest William RIP
Pickering Cyril
Roberts Samuel
Seymour Francies Herbert
Sharpe Ira John
Smith Reginald
Smith Samuel
Stearne Ernest Charles
Thoday George Gerrald
Winkles Joseph
Wyles John William
Inscription: Also the Following Members of Families Belonging to this Parish
Birch Albert George
Clarke Ernest
Epton Harry
Jackson Gerald Goddard
Munton John Thomas
Payne Joseph Lewis
Robinson John Henry
Robinson Ernest
Robinson Fred
Smith Albert Victor
Smith William Brown
Stubley John Henry
Stubley Arthor Thomas
Tweed John Henry
Interestingly, at the time of the ending of the “Great War” (eventually termed the “First World War” - WWI) or the “War to End All War” (due to its highly destructive “mass” nature) – no one was sure what the official dates were – at least as to when the war ended. This is why plaques can still be seen today in the UK marking WWI as lasting “1914-1919”. This includes plaques in the US commemorating WWI dates as varying from “1914-1921” and even “1917-1921” and so on. The US only entered WWI in 1917 – but did not sign a separate “Peace” with a defeated Imperial Germany until 1921. The UK signed a “Peace Treaty” with Imperial Germany in 1919 – hence the confusion. Eventually, the UK, as the main-player during WWI, decided that the “Armistice” (or “Ceasefire”) – which came into effect on November 11th, 1918 – would serve as the official date for the ending of WWI. The advantage of this at the time was that Imperial Germany seemed to have been defeated at the earliest possible date – despite peace agreements not coming into effect until later.
Having referenced the official (available) data concerning the main Duddington Monument (“1”) listed above (stored with English Heritage and the Imperial War Museum) there is no precise date given as to its construction. The consensus is that this Monument “already existed prior to 1948”. However, as the date given is “1914-1918” for WWI – it would appear logical to assume that this Monument was raised around 1921 – when all the Peace Treaties had been signed and the UK government had decided that WWI had ended in “1918”. It is obvious that WWI was far more important for the people of Duddington – as no separate WWII Monument was ever made. There appears to have been a dramatic decrease in the Duddington population so that only a single person is recorded as serving and dying during WWII (1939-1945). Indeed, the name of this individual is “inserted” on the base of the already established WWI Monument. This historically suggests that for many – WWI was considered the primary conflict of the 20th century – whilst later generations tend to see the conflicts as being equal – or WWII being different and therefore more important. The UK lost far more soldiers during WWI than were lost during WWII.
There are two “Rolls of Honour” (see “2” and “3” above) pertaining to WWI in Duddington – both affixed to the interior walls of St Mary’s Church. The paper-printed, hand-written, and framed “Roll of Honour” (“2”) positioned on the South Wall requests “Prayers” for men still serving in the British Armed Forces during WWI. This Monument records the names of 42 serving men – with 39 returning and three (marked with “RIP” in black after their names) having been killed. Of the three Monuments remembering WWI – this “Roll of Honour” must be the oldest. It is a fragile paper document sitting within a wooden frame that probably requires immediate preservation work. The brass plaque attached to the West Wall (“3”) records the names of 44 Duddington men who fought during WWI – with 38 returning and six (marked with “RIP” in red after their names) having been killed. As the date is clearly recorded as “1914-1918” – this suggests the plaque was probably produced around 1921 or later. There are no similar “Rolls of Honour” pertaining to WWII.
Having referenced the official (available) data concerning the main Duddington Monument (“1”) listed above (stored with English Heritage and the Imperial War Museum) there is no precise date given as to its construction. The consensus is that this Monument “already existed prior to 1948”. However, as the date given is “1914-1918” for WWI – it would appear logical to assume that this Monument was raised around 1921 – when all the Peace Treaties had been signed and the UK government had decided that WWI had ended in “1918”. It is obvious that WWI was far more important for the people of Duddington – as no separate WWII Monument was ever made. There appears to have been a dramatic decrease in the Duddington population so that only a single person is recorded as serving and dying during WWII (1939-1945). Indeed, the name of this individual is “inserted” on the base of the already established WWI Monument. This historically suggests that for many – WWI was considered the primary conflict of the 20th century – whilst later generations tend to see the conflicts as being equal – or WWII being different and therefore more important. The UK lost far more soldiers during WWI than were lost during WWII.
There are two “Rolls of Honour” (see “2” and “3” above) pertaining to WWI in Duddington – both affixed to the interior walls of St Mary’s Church. The paper-printed, hand-written, and framed “Roll of Honour” (“2”) positioned on the South Wall requests “Prayers” for men still serving in the British Armed Forces during WWI. This Monument records the names of 42 serving men – with 39 returning and three (marked with “RIP” in black after their names) having been killed. Of the three Monuments remembering WWI – this “Roll of Honour” must be the oldest. It is a fragile paper document sitting within a wooden frame that probably requires immediate preservation work. The brass plaque attached to the West Wall (“3”) records the names of 44 Duddington men who fought during WWI – with 38 returning and six (marked with “RIP” in red after their names) having been killed. As the date is clearly recorded as “1914-1918” – this suggests the plaque was probably produced around 1921 or later. There are no similar “Rolls of Honour” pertaining to WWII.