Godfried Reinardts • Histon

A Belgian war grave in Histon cemetery. 

Godfried Willem Reinardts was born in Aldeneik, Maaseik on 16th December, 1888. His funeral card states that he died in Iliston (Histon), England on 26th December, 1917, however the headstone shows he died on December 22nd.

I don't know how he came to be in England, or his cause of death. His headstone says

 'Born in Maseyck

Died for Belgium'

He was 29 years old.

///cleanest.surveyed.absorbing

GRID REF : TL 44204 63801

Albert Peppercorn • Histon

The grave of Albert Peppercorn in Histon cemetery.

The inscription reads:

In

Loving memory of

ALBERT PEPPERCORN 

Accidentally killed at

Althorp Park

10th June 1905

Aged 26 years

'In the midst of life we are in death

Lord all pitying Jesu blest

Grant him thy eternal rest'

Albert was born in the nearby village of Lolworth in July 1879.

He was trained as a butcher, but at the age of 22 he enlisted in the Imperial Yeomanry. He served with 44th Coy, and between March 1900 and 17th May 1901 he was in South Africa, taking part in the Battle of Rhenosterkop on 29th November 1900.

He was discharged the following Summer, but soon re-enlisted where he would serve in the 25th Regiment for another year, going back to fight in South Africa. 

Again he was discharged and again he later re-enlisted.

On June 10th 1905 he was a Lance Corporal of the Peterborough Division, Northamptonshire Imperial Yeomanry. During a two week training camp at Althorp Park he took out a horse on exercise, it is said, in preparation for the Whit Monday races.

The animal was spooked and bolted, and Arthur collided with a tree. Badly injured and his skull fractured, he died instantly. 

His body was returned to Histon where he was buried. 

///genius.enchanted.deform

GRID REF: TL 44204 63804

Bdr Arthur Leet • Histon

Bombardier Arthur Richard Leet

Service Number 93957

Royal Field Artillery 

-

Arthur was born in Histon in 1882. In July of 1903 he married Lily Maud Merry and together they had three children, Violet, Doris, and Gladys.

While serving on the Western Front during the First Workd War he was gassed and subsequently discharged from service.

He died as a result of gas poisoning on 19th July, 1919 aged just 37 years old.

His grave is in Histon Cemetery. 

///beyond.tolerable.index

GRID REF: TL 44211 63786

Flight Sergeant E.B.Wilcox • Burwell

Flight Sergeant Ernest Burton Wilcox

Royal Air Force (150 Squadron) 

Wireless Operator/Air Gunner

Vickers Wellington IC R1044

On 27th May 1941 orders were received for three aircraft to carry out an attack on the channel port of Boulogne. At 0130 on 28th they took off at three minute intervals from RAF Newton. 

Two of the aircraft released bombs over the target area and a third, Wilcox's Wellington, bombed an alternative target of Ostend. 

On the return to base the aircraft ran into low cloud. It was trying to ascertain it's position when it crashed into a hillside 4 miles from Leicester. The aircraft broke in two on impact and the front section caught fire. 

Five members of the crew were killed, including Flt Sgt Wilcox. One member of the crew, Rear Gunner Sgt Edmunds, escaped with only minor injuries. 

Wilcox is buried Burwell Cemetery, Cambridgeshire 

His headstone bears the inscription 

"AT THE RISING AND GOING DOWN OF THE SUN 

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM"

///litigate.farmed.written