First World War: Do you have information on these servicemen?

A woman who is the descendant of soldiers who died during the First World War is writing a book on other men who served – and needs your help in gathering information.

Julie Robinson and her family are related to soldiers Alfred Tom Leonard and James Foxon, both victims of the Great War named on the memorial in Guilden Morden – just across the county border in Cambridgeshire.

The village’s history group contacted her about starting a project back in 2015 – which included writing the book about soldiers from the area, and further afield in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire.

She said: “We agreed to collaborate and managed to obtain Heritage Lottery funding for research of those who had served – to commission the centenary memorial, to hold an exhibition, to organise a trip to the battlefields of the Western Front and to hold a dedication and remembrance event.

“In conjunction, I have continued to write my book, ‘Men of Morden’, which I am hoping will be released in November this year, but I am now focusing on trying to research details of those who served.”

Julie has an extensive list of men she wants to find information and pictures of – including those with specific links to our area are Thomas Bertram Handscombe, who married Elsie G Carter in 1935 in Hitchin.

There’s also George Charles Reynolds, who was born in 1895 in Ashwell to George Thomas and Agnes Reynolds and married Lilian Cole of Guilden Morden in 1922, William Reynolds Jnr who was also born in in Ashwell in 1877, and Frank Watson – born in Stotfold in circa 1891, he was the son of Frederick James and Elizabeth Watson née Mehen.

If you can help, email julierobinson100@hotmail.co.uk before the end of July.

Beds Police are also hoping to trace the descendants of police officers who died in the war.

The force’s museum’s Keith Jackson said: “There were 11 regular officers and 10 special constables who died in the war. I am hoping to trace the descendants of those men to ascertain some of their family histories and to invite them to attend a service.”

To share information or find out more, contact Keith Jackson on keith.jackson9159@bedfordshire.pnn.police.uk also by the end of this month.

Men of Morden research

• Anderson, Charlie

Lived in Steeple Morden

• Balls, Harry

Born 1890 to Naomi Mears

• Barratt, Alban

Born 1888 to Louis and Janetta Alban (nee Barnes).

• Barratt, Robert

• Beale, William Reginald

Born Guilden Morden in 1890 to Mary Beale.

• Bell, George

Lived in Steeple Morden

• Bell, John Bullen

Born in 1885 in Kingston, Cambs. Married to Martha Buttress.

• Bing, Herbert Edwin

Born in 1882 in Deal, Kent. Married Minnie Nora Piggott from Guilden.

• Brockett, Arthur

The son of Alfred and Sarah Brockett, born in Guilden Morden in 1892. Married Beatrice Wildman.

• Carter, Fred

• Clarke, John

Lived at Highfield Farm also known locally as the Red Barns.

• Clements, Frederick George

Born 1896 in Kelshall, son of William and Emma Clements.

• Cole, Thomas

Born 1887 in Guilden Morden son of Arthur Cole and Mary Ann Conder.

• Conder, Harry

Born 1890 in Guilden Morden son of William and Sarah Ann Conder from Steeple Morden.

• Covington, William John

Born in Guilden Morden in 1882, the son of Jesse and Sarah Covington (nee Worboys).

• Crow, Jack

Lived in Steeple Morden

• Day, Harry Pilch

Brought in to manage the village shop in Guilden Morden then run by Miss Sarah Jarman.

• Dellar, Ben

Born in 1892 in Guilden Morden. His parents were Charles Dellar and Sarah (nee Conder).

• Dellar, James Conder

Born 1895 son of Charles and Sarah Dellar of Guilden Morden.

• Dellar, William George

Born in 1897 in Guilden Morden, the son of Simeon George and Rebecca Ann Dellar.

• Desborough, Herbert

• Dinnage, Henry Herbert (Bert)

Born 1883 in Sussex. Married Ethel Irene Morris 1917 of Guilden Morden.

• Farrer, Frank

Born in 1863 in Milton Ernest, the son of James and Priscilla Farrer. He married Minnie Parrish in 1891 in Guilden Morden.

• Farrer, J S

• Flack, William

Lived in Steeple Morden

• Fordham, William Herbert

No military record found

Born c. 1883 in Guilden Morden, his parents were Sir Herbert George and Lady Fanny (nee Blake).

• Gentle. Albert

Born either 1872 or 1878. The son of James and Sarah (nee Worboys) of Guilden Morden.

• Godman, John William

Born 1891 in London, he married Winifred Kate Clements in 1914 in Guilden Morden.

• Green, James

Born in Guilden Morden in c.1878. His parents were James and Amy, nee Wiltshire.

• Harman, Jack

Lived in Steeple Morden

• Hart, Herbert

Lived in Steeple Morden

• Handscombe, Thomas Bertram

Married Elsie G Carter in 1935 in Hitchin.

• Harradence, Percy

Born in c. 1877 in Litlington, the son of William and Abigail (nee Ingrey).

• Hart, Herbert Richard (Bert)

Able Seaman, Royal Navy

Born in 1889 in Great Gransden to Herbert John and Emma (nee Simons) of North Brook End, Steeple Morden.

• Hitch, David

Born in 1891 in Steeple Morden, the son of Mark and Jane Hitch.

• Holder, Frederick Charles

Born in Guilden Morden in 1881, he was the son of James and Mary (nee Thompson).

• Huckle, Andrew

Born in Guilden Morden in c. 1883 Frederick and Mary Hurrell.

• Hurrell, George Lawrence

Born c. 1898 in Great Barton, Suffolk, to Lawrence and Julia Hurrell. The family lived in Steeple Morden.

• Janeway, Arthur

Born c. 1868 in Steeple Morden to Walter and Kezia Janeway (nee Watts).

• Janeway, Frank

Born in 1879 in Guilden Morden to Walter and Kezia Janeway.

• Jarman, Albert

Born in 1898 in Guilden Morden, the son of George and Sarah Jarman (nee Rogers).

• Jarman, Frank

Born in c. 1888 in Guilden Morden, he was the son of George and Sarah Jarman (nee Rogers).

• Jarman, Frederick

Born in c. 1896 in Guilden Morden, the son of George and Sarah Jarman (nee Rogers).

• Jarman, John

Born c. 1894 in Guilden Morden. Son of George and Sarah Jarman (nee Rogers).

• King, Charles

Lived in Steeple Morden

• Knights, Edward

• Lee, Charles

Born in Cockayne Hatley in 1899, the son of George James and Meena Lee. He married Lizzie Jarman 1926 in Guilden Morden. She was the daughter of George and Sarah Jarman.

• Lee, Frederick Thomas

Born in 1896 in Humberstone, Leicester, the son of George James and Meena Lee and older brother of Charles Lee. He was living in Guilden Morden in 1918.

• Leete, Cecil Wynn

Born 1889 in London, he married Emily Janette Rule in Guilden Morden 1912.

• Matthews, Ernest

Born in 1882 in Guilden Morden.

• Matthews, William John (John)

Born in 1899 in Guilden Morden. He was the son of William and Agnes (nee Merrill). He married Florence Moule.

• Mayes, David

Born in Guilden Morden on 16 March 1877. His parents were Page and Anna, both of Guilden Morden.

• Miller, William

Born in 1885 in Guilden Morden. He was the son of Arthur James and Louisa (nee Giffen).

• Morris, Herbert Oswald

Born in 1888, the son of Walter and Martha Ellen Morris of Guilden Morden. He married Kate Covington.

• Moule, George

Lived at Cold Harbour in 1918.

• Moule, William John (John)

Lived at Cold Harbour in 1918.

• Murfitt, Charles

Born in Guilden Morden in 1868, the son of Charles and Mary (nee Reavill). He married Mary (nee Rule) in 1893.

• Murfitt, Frank William

He was born in 1893 in Guilden Morden. His parents were Charles and Mary (nee Rule).

• Naylor, Erasmus

Born in 1881 in Guilden Morden. He was the son of William and Sarah (nee Thurley).

• Naylor, Hubert

Born in 1887 in Guilden Morden, he was the son of William and Sarah (nee Thurley).

• Newell, Alfred George

Born in 1886 in Guilden Morden, the son of Samuel and Harriet Annie Newell. Married Lottie Reynolds Miller of Steeple Morden.

• Newell, John Harry (Harry)

No military records found

Born in Guilden Morden in 1889, the son of Montford and Mercie (nee Barnes). School.

• Newell, William Edgar

The son of Mountford and Mercie (nee Barnes), he was born in Wrestlingworth in 1893.

• Parrish, Frank Oswald

Born in Guilden Morden in 1885, the son of John and Fanny (Taylor). He married Agnes Brockett.

• Pearce, Alfred (Alf)

Lived in New Road, Guilden Morden in 1918.

• Pearce, Arthur

Born in 1877 in Steeple Morden to William and Caroline (nee Pateman). He married Elsie Manning.

• Pearce, Jubal

Lived in Steeple Morden

• Peckett, George

Lived in Steeple Morden

• Pettengell, Alfred

Born in 1898 in Guilden Morden to George and Sarah (nee Sole) Pettengell.

• Pettengell, William Curtis King

Born in Guilden Morden in 1865, the son of Allen and Esther (nee King). He married Kate Everitt.

• Piggott, Albert

Royal Army Service Corps.

Born in Guilden Morden in 1876, his parents were David and Susan Piggott. He married Martha Williams.

• Piggott, Benjamin

Born in 1881 in Guilden Morden to Rowland and Sarah (nee Merrill). He married Annie Randall.

• Piggott, Thomas Rowland (Tom)

Born in Guilden Morden 1884 to Rowland and Sarah (nee Merrill) of Church Road, Guilden Morden.

• Pilfold, Joseph John

Born in 1873 in London, he married Jessie Hunt in 1896. He lived in Church Street, Guilden Morden in 1918.

• Pilfold, Joseph John (junior)

Born in 1898 in London, son of the above. He lived in Church Street, Guilden Morden.

• Randall, William John

Born in Guilden Morden in 1898, his parents were Frederick and Sarah (nee Picking). He married Ethel Butchart.

• Rayner, Herbert Sidney

Born in 1885 in Steeple Morden, the son of Frederick and Mary Rayner (nee Gentle).

• Reynolds, George Charles

Born in 1895 in Ashwell to George Thomas and Agnes Reynolds. He married Lilian Cole of Guilden Morden in 1922.

• Reynolds, William (junior)

Born in Ashwell in 1877. In 1911 he was living in Pound Green, Guilden Morden.

• Rogers, Donald

Born in 1896, the son of Edwin and Rose Rogers of Odsey. Edwin Rogers was the landlord of the Railway Tavern (now The Jester).

• Rogers, Walter Edwin

Born in 1899, his parents were Edwin and Rose of Odsey.

• Rule, Basil

Born in Guilden Morden in 1891 to Francis and Eliza (nee Harradine) Rule.

• Rule, Charles Wallis

Born in Guilden Morden in 1885 to Francis and Eliza Rule. He married Ellen McMurran.

• Rule, Frederick

Lived in Steeple Morden

• Rule, Henry Stanley (Stanley)

Born in 1888 in Guilden Morden, the son of Francis and Eliza Rule. He married Ida May Wright.

• Rule, Robert

Sergeant

Royal Army Service Corps

Born in Guilden Morden in 1885, he was the son of Wilfred and Elizabeth (nee Parrish). He married Florence Goodyear.

• Sandeman, Christopher A W.

The son of Constance (nee Fenwick) and Walter Albert Sandeman of Morden House, Guilden Morden.

• Sandeman, Henry Gerard W (Gerard)

Born in 1885, the second-eldest son of Walter Albert Sandeman and Constance (nee Fenwick) of Morden House, Guilden Morden.

• Sandeman, Patrick Walter

Born in 1896, the younger brother to Christopher and Gerard.

• Saville, Edward

Private

Suffolk Regiment

Born in Guilden Morden in 1885, the son of David and Sarah Saville. He married Susan Gentle.

• Skinner, Arthur Henry

Born in 1896 in Edgware, the son of Ephraim and Sarah Ann Skinner (who was born in Guilden Morden). He lived in the High Street in 1918.

• Smith, Arthur Charles

Born in 1892 in Arrington, the son of James and Mary Ann Smith. He married Ethel May Randall. They lived in Avenel Terrace.

• Sole, David

Born in 1878 in Guilden Morden, the son of Matthew Sole and Mary Anne Harradine. He married Alice Martha Bowman.

• Southgate, Walter William

Born in 1885 in Ely to Walter and Elizabeth Southgate. He married Florence Mabel Greaves. He was living in Guilden Morden in 1918.

• Sturmer, Thomas

• Tant, Arthur

Lived in Steeple Morden

• Thompson, Alfred

Born in 1890 in Guilden Morden, his parents were Isaac Thompson and Lizzie Ann, nee Dellar.

• Thompson, Edward

Born in Guilden Morden in 1887, he was the son of Isaac and Lizzie Ann, nee Dellar. The brother of Alfred.

• Thompson, Edwin

Edwin was born c1885, the second eldest son to William and Fanny Thompson (nee Gentle).

• Thompson, Frank

No service record found.

Bedfordshire Police research

• PC George Stephen Babbington

• PC William Dean

• PC Henry William Gordon

• Edmund Wressell Kirk

• PC Francis Joseph McCartie - died at home of TB contracted during War Service (buried Kempston Cemetery)

• PC James Norman

• PC Charles Herbert Pedley

• PC Walter Frederick Surridge

• PC William Byron - died at home in 1920 as result of injuries sustained during War

• PC James Chandler - died in Germany (Army of Occupation) 26.12.1919 during the ‘flu epidemic

• Charles Harold Slade

Special Constabulary

• Charles W. Cooper

• William Freeman

• Cecil Henry Green

• Albert Henley

• Ralph Neale

• Fredrick Robert Richmond

• William James Roberts

• Frederick Joseph Rolls

• Frederic Baron Tanqueray

• Thomas LLewellwyn Vaughan