Ketton War Memorials

Ketton War Memorials - St Mary the Virgin Church

Just to the right of the South Door of the St Mary the Virgin Church in Ketton stands an elongated stone cross atop two square plinths. On the four-sides of the second plinth are recorded the names of those killed on active service during WWI (1914-1919) & WWII (1939-1945). Although the Armistice (“Ceasefire”) was agreed with Imperial Germany to come into force on November 11th, 1918 – the formal “Surrender” and “Peace Treaty” between Great Britain and Imperial Germany did not happen until 1919 (the US did not sign a similar agreement until 1921). This is why the early WWI Memorials often contain differing end-dates. Eventually the UK government decided that WWI ended in 1918, and this became the official date. The Ketton Monument must have been raised probably around 1919 before the official decision (which was probably post-1921). Moving counter-clockwise:

1) West-Face Inscription:
1914-1919
Pray for the Men of Ketton Who Gave Their Lives in the Great Wars
1939-1945
GW Allwood                     WG Hadley
JNA Baldwin                     WA Knox
FW Burrows                     ER Liddell
AR Cooper IW Lowther
EH Downes BF Walpole

2) North-Face Inscription:
TN Scotchbrook              T Walpole
A Skinner W Weed
H Stafford TG Whittaker
A Storey H Woods
A Thompson A Wright
AG Towell AR Yates

3) East-Face Inscription:
C Downing                        W Kay
J Groom W Knox
G Hercock                         GW Lane
AF Jackson                       F Osey
A Johnson                         JR Savage

4) South-Face Inscription:
A Bailey                              T Burrows
HB Barfield W Capendale
C Barsby                            C Close
G Boyall                             C Crowson
R Brown                             B Cunnington
B Burbidge RG Dicks

There are two Rolls of Honour affixed to the walls of the South Porch (narthex) – or the main entrance. The Roll for WWII is affixed to the West Wall – whilst the Roll for WWI is affixed to the South Wall. Each Roll records the names of the men (and women) who served during both wars and either survived – and/or were killed on active service:

1) Roll of Honour WWI (1914-1919)

Upper Inscription: Ketton Roll of Those Who Served in His Majesty’s Forces in the War of 1914-1919

Lower Inscription: Names of Fallen Heroes are Written in Red (Replaced with “RIP” next to name in this document)
Killed On Active Sevice:

Baily A                               Gunner                RFA                      RIP
Barfield HB PTE South Staffs RIP
Barnett H PTE South Staffs RIP
Barsby C PTE North Staffs RIP
Bowall GW                        Sergt Lincolns RIP
Brown R Sergt                    Lincolns RIP
Burbidge TE                      PTE Devons RIP
Burrows T Gunner RFA RIP
Capendale JW PTE Leicesters RIP
Close WC Sec Lieut Northants RIP
Crowson C                        PTE Lincolns RIP
Cunnington BJ PTE KORLLI RIP
Dicks RG PTE Leicesters RIP
Downing C                        PTE Leicesters RIP
Groom J PTE Northants RIP
Hercock GE                      PTE ASC MTrans RIP
Jackson AE                       PTE Leicesters RIP
Jackson GE PTE Leicesters RIP
Johnson A                         PTE Lincolns RIP
Kay W R Rifles RIP
Knox W L Cpl Duke of Well LI RIP
Lane GW PTE QRW Surreys RIP
Osey F PTE Leicesters RIP
Redmile W Sergt Leicesters RIP
Savage R L Cpl Lincolns RIP
Scotchbrook TN PTE                       Nothumb Fus RIP
Skinner A                          PTE                       Leicesters RIP
Stafford H                         PTE                       Lincolns RIP
Storey A PTE                       Sherwood For RIP
Thompson A Sergt Austral Inf RIP
Towell AG PTE                       Leicesters RIP
Walwople JT                     PTE                       Leicesters RIP
Weed W L Cpl R Welsh Fuss RIP
Whittaker TG                    Sergt Lincolns RIP
Woods H                           PTE                       Leicesters RIP
Wright A                            PTE                       Lincolns RIP
Wright W                           PTE                       Lincolns RIP
Yates AR PTE                       Middlesex RIP

Served and Survived:
Andrew A                          PTE                       Labour Corps
Andrew JE PTE                       AVC
Andrew R                                                        Nat Res
Andrew SD PTE                       Lincolns
Astin E PTE                       ASC (MT)
Barfield A                          PTE                       Leicesters
Barfield LH                       Sergt RAMC
Barsby AS Gunner RGA
Barwell TC                        PTE                       Leicesters
Bennett F                          PTE                       Labour Corps
Berridge CE                      PTE                       Lincolns
Berridge G                        PTE ASC
Berridge JR Gunner RGA
Biden WM                         Capt RAMC
Blades FJ Driver RASC
Bonner F PTE Lincolns
Bowley JA PTE Lincolns
Boyall   G Lincolns
Boyall J PTE Leicesters
Boyall JH                           PTE Leicesters
Brooks AJ                          PTE Leicesters
Brooks S                            PTE Northants
Brown A                             PTE Leicesters
Brown F                             PTE Leicesters
Brown R                             PTE Lincolns
Brown SD                          PTE                       Nothants
Browne FS                        QMS Suffolks
Burdett H PTE Leicesters
Burroughs CF Capt Leics Yeomanry
Burroughs HN Lt Col RAMC DSO
Burrows A Gunner RGA
Burrows D Gunner RFA
Burrows RL                       PTE Lincolns
Camme GT                                                     RFC
Capendale AH PTE Essex
Chappell E CSM Lincolns
Clarke GE PTE RAF
Clarke J PTE                       Lincolns
Coleman E PTE                       Leicesters
Cox JH PTE                       Glam Yeomanry
Creamer CT PTE                       RASC
Cross AG AB                         RN
Crowson AW PTE                       Lincolns
Culpin AHMN PTE                       Leicesters
Culpin H Tpr Hussars
Culpin J Nat Res
Culpin JM                          PTE                       Leicesters
Culpin JW                          PTE                       Leicesters
Dawson S                          PTE                       ASC (MT)
Dennis H                           PTE                       Leicesters
Dunford JJ                                                       RFC
Elkington E                       PTE Lincolns
Freeman A                        PTE                       Leicesters
Freeman E                        Bombdr RGA
Garfield AE                       PTE                       Leicesters
Gorton R St G Brig- RA and CB CMG Gen Staff
Green E PTE                       RASC (MI)
Green FR PTE RW Surreys
Green HJ Sergt RFA
Green WCB                      Gunner RGA
Greetham JT                     PTE Lincolns
Halford A                           PTE Labour Corps
Hall JC PTE Notts & Derby
Hemsill A PTE Suffolks
Hibbins GW                      Sapr RE
Hill A MM Corpl MGC
Hough DRW                     Sapr RE
Hough GR Corpl RTC
Ingrey C PTE Leicesters Yeomanry
Johns FT Corpl RE
Johnson AF                       PTE Lincolns
Johnson E                         PTE Leicesters
Johnson JH                       Corpl Suffolks
Johnson RJ Corpl Lincolns
Johnson TW                      PTE Leicesters
Johnson WD Capt The Buffs
Knox A Sergt                    Rifle Brigade
Knox JA PTE Leicesters
Lacey D OS                        RN VR
Lamb SP                            PTE Lincolns
Lee A Mech                    RN VR
Maile SRA
Maitland CC                     Comdr RN
Munton G                          PTE                       Leicesters
Parker AJ PTE                       Leicesters
Peet R PTE                       Yorks
Popple P PTE Leicesters
Postance F                        Capt Lincolns
Redmile R                         PTE Sherwood For
Reeve W Sapr RE
Robinson R PTE Leicesters
Russell T                           CSM Leicesters
Scothcbrook H PTE                       ASC
Scotchbrook JG PTE                       Northum Fuss
Scotney CWA PTE                       ASC
Scotney HCS Sergt Beds Yeomanry
Shakeshaft WT PTE Leicesters
Sharpe A                           PTE                       Leicesters
Sharpe CH Corpl Lifeguards
Sharpe CJ PTE RASC
Sharpe L PTE                       Lincolns
Sharpe RA Corpl RASC
Sibers A                             PTE Royal Fuss
Skellett AC                        PTE Sherwood For
Smalley CS                       PTE                       Lincolns
Smith FJ PTE Leicesters
Smith JW PTE                       Leicesters
Stafford H                         PTE Lincolns
Stafford J Sergt Lincolns
Stafford JA                        PTE                       Leicesters
Stafford M                         L Cpl Northants
Stafford PW                      PTE                       Leicesters
Storey WT                         PTE                       Lincolns
Thomas AJ                        PTE                       Leicesters
Thomas EH                       Corpl Leicesters
Thompson CG Corpl Durham LI
Thompson GC Gunner RGA
Thompson WD Driver RASC
Thorpe FJ Corpl Leicesters
Thorpe F                            Corpl RFC
Towell PR PTE Northants
Tubby G 2nd AM                RNAS
Vernon FE                         Corpl RFA
Walker CWG Capt East Kent Yeomanry
Walpole AF PTE Royal Berks
Walpole F                          PTE Lincolns
Walpole F                          Sergt                    ASC
Walpole H Corpl                   Lincolns
Walpole HD PTE Lincolns
Walpole JT                        PTE Leicesters
Walpole J                          PTE RASC
Wrightman GW Sergt                    Highland Division
Wellsred WC Lieut                     Lincolns
Wesley W                          PTE RASC
White GJ PTE Leicesters
Whittaker JWS PTE Lincolns
Whittaker J                        PTE Lincolns
Woolley JR                        CSM Lincolns
Woolley RW                      Driver                   RFA

2) Roll of Honour WWII (1939-1945)

(See Below for details pertaining to "GH Wyles")

Upper Inscription: Ketton Roll of Those Who Served in His Majesty’s Forces in the War of 1939-1945

Lower Inscription: Names of Fallen Heroes are Written in Red (Replaced with “RIP” next to name in this document)

Royal Navy British Army Royal Air Force
Loether JW        RIP         Allwood GW RIP          Downes FW RIP         Cooper AR         RIP
Walpole BF        RIP Baldwin JNA     RIP          Hadley WG RIP         Liddell EB RIP
Burrow FW        RIP          Knox WA RIP

Ballard WL                        Andrew C Hill LA Andrew FG
Boyall J Barwell AE Hill RW                               Baldwin Sir John EA
Brewster L                        Barwell CW                       Jackson PM KBE CB DSO
Burrows SR Barwell G Jackson WH Bennett GE
Campbell C Bedder W Jakins DF                           Bennett K
Chappell B Betts EF Jorgensen PM Blades PF
Green D Betts LA                             Knox G Bradshaw M GM
Norris GHJ                        Boughen AV Miller AG                           Calleyne SM
Nunn PE Boyall JT Miller EK Carver EJ
Redmile H                         Bradshaw J                       Norris GM Clark AG
Redmile RB Bradshaw JS                     Norris LA                           Dunford W
Scotney GA Bradshaw S Plowes F Hough AW
Smith JR Burrows A Powley FC Miller WD
Smith-Glasper RE Burrows AH Pulford WG                       Palmer FW
Spriggs JD                         Burrows E                         Salvage HJ Peckett M
Royal Marines Burrow TRH Scotchbrook L Pembridge TJ
Wallhead KW Calleyne DM Scotney J Phillips R
Merchant Navy Clark JR                             Shelton C                          Potter LC
Smith JW                           Clipston A Skellett KG                        Proverbs TM
WRNS Cook H                              Smith-Glasper E Smith GJ
Green DA Creamer CW Steele IA Smith JHR
Dennis AJ                          Swann EW Tibbert JC
Edis HW                            Thorpe FH Tilley E
Emmott RRW Tibbett G                           Wrightman JJ
Ford W Towell A                             Williams JE
Garfield N Towell J WAAF
Giddings A Walpole B                         FitzWilliam F
Green AA                           Ward GH
Green WW Warren J GM
Hallett EA                          Whittaker AR
Halsall R                           Whittaker JA
Hand DG                           Woodward WE
Harrison TJW                    Woolley GH
Hill C                                  Wyles GH
ATS
Dennis OL                         Scotchbrook D
Fitches J                            Scotchbrook E

1921 Census Featuring "Gerald Henry Wyles" of Collyweston! Photograph and Research Courtesy of Diane Wyles.

Gerald Henry Wyles (March 1903 - March 7th 1988)

Death Date March 7th 1988 - Cremation Date March 9th 1988

Remarkably, GH Wyles was "36" in 1939 and "41" in 1945. Despite his mature age - he managed to pass the Basic Training with the young men to enter the British Army during wartime. He then survived the war! At some point after 1921, GH Wyles must have relocated to Ketton (where he was eventually cremated following his death). At present we are unsure of his military unit.

1921 Census was taken on June 19th - with Gerald Wyles recorded as being "18 Years 3 Months" - which suggests he was born during March, 1903.

Birth Place - Collyweston - (Northamptonshire) England
Residence Street Address Beamont Chase, Uppingham
Residence Place Beaumont Chase, Rutland, England
Occupation General Farm Work
Employer Mr Sheton Fariners -

Father - Jeremiah Wyles (b. Duddington) - 52 Years 11 Months - Shepherd and Stocksman
Mother - Eliza Wyles nee Gowain (b. Collyweston) 52 Years 8 Months
Sister - Minnie Wyles (b. Collyweston) - 28 Years 3 Months
Uncle (Brother of Eliza) - William Godwin (b. Collyweston) - 46 Years 8 Months (Gee Wyles deciphered this relationship)

Jeremiah Wyles (far left) and his wife, Eliza Wyles (centre)